25TH  Thousand 


■“.'5  i  \F'  I 


MUST  KNOW 

FOR  SAFETY 

1 

32  FULL  PAGE  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Published  by 

The  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County 

Otis  Building:,  Chicago,  Ill. 

TWENTY-FIVE  CENTS 


A  Copy  of  this  Book 
Should  be  Kept 
in 

Every  Home. 


IN  CASE  OF  ACCIDENT 
Turn  to  Pages  140-144 
Also  Illustrated  Appendix 
Pages  171-178 

for 

“First  Aids  to  the  Injured” 


RULES  OF  THE  ROAD 

Page  168 


Copyright,  1915 
by  the 

Public  Safety  Commission  of 
Chicago  and  Cook  County 

CHICAGO,  ILL. 


Things  You  Must  Know  for 

Safety 


No  man’s  time  is  so  valuable  that  he  cannot 
profit  by  a  study  of  the  startling 
FACTS  in  this  book 


READ  IT !  DIGEST  IT  ! 


THIRTY-TWO  PAGES  OF  ILLUSTRA¬ 
TIONS,  WITH  THE  “PUNCH” 

OF  MOVING  PICTURES 


Copyright,  1915,  by 

The  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County 
Office:  Olis  Building,  10  South  La  Salle  Street 
CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS 


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'^o  the  Public  Safety  Commission  oj 
^  Chicago  and  Cook  County : 

I  know  of  no  better  use  that  can  be  made  of  this  book 
than  to  dedicate  it  to  the  divine  purpose  of  education  in 
matters  that  contribute  to  the  prevention  of  those  numerous 
causes  of  death  which  come  under  the  official  care  of  the 


Coroner  of  a  great  city  like  Chicago. 

The  figures  on  page  166,  which  show  a  reduction  of 
464  such  cases  in  Cook  County  in  the  single  year  of  1914, 
constitute  a  magnificent  tribute  to  all  the  agencies  that  have 
aided  in  this  truly  great  work. 

To  the  members  of  the  Public  Safety  Commission  espe¬ 
cially,  I  tender  my  appreciation  and  gratitude  for  the  great 
service  they  have  rendered  in  their  whole-hearted  and  self- 
_  sacrificing  efforts  to  promote  these  objects,  and  I  have  much 
"^’b'^^sure  in  placing  the  copyright  of  this  book  in  the  hands 
^  of  this  Commission,  believing  that  they  will  use  it  to  the 
utmost  advantage  in  the  education  and  warning — not  only 
of  the  people  of  Chicago,  but  of  the  whole  country. 


Petek  jM.  Hoffman. 


OFFICE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT 


CHICAGO,  March  25,  1914. 


HON.  PETER  M.  HOFFMAN, 

Coroner,  Cook  County, 

Chicago,  Ill. 

Dear  Sir:  The  way  you  have  per¬ 
formed  the  duties  of  the  office  of 
Coronerhas  made  a  radical  change  in 
the  relations  of  that  office  to  the 
public.  Instead  of  doing  the  work 
perfunctori  ly-you  have  seen  the 
great  necessity  of  bringing  home  to 
the  public  the  dreadful  lessons 
which  result  from  carelessness  and 
cause  so  many  unnecessary  deaths. 

This  I  consider  a  fine  pieceof 
constructive  work  which  is  bound  to 
produce  a  lessening  of  accidents 
which  result  in  permanent  injury  or 
death.  The  old  adage  that  “An  ounce 
of  prevention  is  worth  a  pound  of 
cure”  is  here  adm  i  r  ab  1  y  app  1  i  e  d  ,  and 
I  feel  sure  that  the  time,  thought 
and  attention  which  you  have  given, 
preparing  this  excellent  report,  is 
worthy  of  the  greatest  c  omme  nd  a  t i o  n  . 

Yours  very  truly, 

ALEX.  A.  McCORMI CK, 

Pres ident . 


4 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


5 


PETER  M.  HOFFMAN 
Coroner  of  Cook  County,  Illinois 

Founder  of  the  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County,  Illinois 


Index 


TT 

PAGE 

Dedication  .  3 

Letter  of  the  President  of  the  County  Board .  4 

Index . G 

Public  Safety  and  the  Coroner’s  Office,  by  George  H.  Whittle..  10 

Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  Co.,  Ill .  IG 

Safety  Crusade  in  Foreign  Languages,  by  Louis  N.  Hammerling  18 

Safety  First,  by  Mrs.  Ella  Flagg  Young .  20 

Safety  First  in  the  Schools,  by  Edward  J.  Tobin . 24 

Coroner’s  Office  and  Public  Safety,  by  Graham  Taylor .  2G 

The  Automobile  Court,  by  Judge  Sheridan  E.  Fry .  28 

Safeguarding  Life  and  Limb,  by  Judge  Marcus  A.  Kavanaugh.  31 

We  Learn  by  Experience  .  31 

Relative  Proportion  of  Automobile  Accidents .  32 

Cost  of  Recklessness  and  Heedlessness . 34 

Nine  Years  as  Coroner,  by  Peter  M.  Hoffman .  35 

Coroner’s  Cases  in  Six  Years — Physician’s  Certificates .  35 

Inquests — Held  to  Grand  Jury  (1912-1913) .  3G 

Forecast  Table  for  1914  .  38 

Public  Safety  Movement  .  41 

Education  and  Public  Safety  .  42 

Spirit  of  Conservation . .• .  42 

Natural  Exuberance  of  Children . . .  4G 

Violent  Deaths  in  1912  by  Age .  48 

Need  for  County  Bureau  of  Statistics .  48 

A  State  Law  (Department  of  Statistics) .  49 

Serrated  Bottles  for  Poisons .  50 

Coroner’s  Physicians  . 51 

Post-mortem  Examinations .  52 

The  County  Morgue .  53 

A  Whistle  for  the  Blind .  53 

Comparative  Table  G,  1912-1913 .  54 

.  Homicides — Abortion — Speed  Mania  .  55 

Accidents-  of  the  Street,  Table  7 .  57 

Comparative  Auto  Table  8,  1912-1913 .  58 

Horse  Vehicles  .  59 

Elevator  Accidents — Railroad  Accidents — Street  Car  Acci¬ 
dents  .  G1 

Elevated  Railway  Accidents — Industrial  Accidents .  G3 

Asphyxiation — Drowning — Tetanus — Suicides .  G5 

Firearms,  with  Comparative  Table  9 .  GG 

Electrocution,  with  Table  10 .  G7 

Statistical  Department — Comparative  Summary  Table  11....  70 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Department  of  Alphabetical  Tables .  71 

By  Moiiths,  Sex,  Age,  Race,  Civil  Condition  (Tables  12-16)..  71 

Causes  of  Deaths  (Table  17)  .  72 

Nativity  Table  (Table  18)  .  73 

Occupation  Table  (Table  19)  .  74 

Suicide  Tables  (20-28)  . 75 

Homicide  Tables  (29-35) .  76 

Transportation  Tables  (36-43)  .  77 

Industrial  Tables  (44-49)  .  78 

Alphabetical  Occupations,  Census  Table  50 .  79 

Department  of  Numerical  Tables .  83 

Inquests  in  Order  of  Months,  Table  51 .  83 

Inquests  in  Order  of  Age,  Table  52 .  84 

Hazard  of  Occupations,  Table  53 .  84 

Percejitage  Hazard  of  Occupations,  Table  54 .  88 

Causes  of  Death,  Table  55 .  91 

Nativity,  Table  56  .  94 

Social  and  Individual  Responsibility,  Table  57 .  94 

Suicide  Tables,  58-60 .  97 

Methods  of  Suicide  in  Their  Order .  99 

Poisons  Used  for  Suicide  in  Their  Order . 100 

Homicide  Tables,  63-65  . 101 

Transportation  Tables,  66-70  . 103 

Industrial  Tables,  71-73 . 105 

Nativity  Tables,  74-75 . 106 

Nativity  Tables  per  10,000  Population  for  Inquests,  Homi¬ 
cides  and  Suicides,  76-78  . 108 

Ixiquests,  Suicides  and  Homicides  Nativity  .Percentage  Tables, 

79-81  . 109 

The  Coroner’s  Office,  by  David  R.  Jones,  Chief  Deputy . Ill 

Department  of  Statistics,  by  Parker  H.  Sercombe . 116 

The  Chemical  Laboratory,  by  William  Duncan  McNally . 121 

Court  Reporting  Department,  by  Sigmund  S.  Tarski . 125 

A  Day  in  the  Coroner’s  Office . 126 

Some  Typical  Coroner’s  Cases . 130 

First  Aid  to  the  Injured . 140 

Conclusioji  . 144 

Supplementary — Inspection  of  Grade  Crossings  in  Cook  County.  145 

A  Year  of  Safety  Work . 152 

The  Unemployed  as  Coroner’s  Juries . 157 

Fred  Warren’s  Story  of  a  Lost  Limb . . . 159 

How  the  Death  Roll  Has  Decreased  in  a  Year . 165 

Safety  First  Suggestions . ' . 168 

Americans  Killed  in  Times  of  Peace . 170 


7 


INDEX 


Illustrations 

Safety  First — Never  Stopped,  Looked  or  Listened 

Peter  M.  Hoffman . . . 

Chas.  M.  Hayes . . . 

George  H^  Whittle . 

Dr.  William  E.  Buehler . 

George  W.  Dixon . 

John  T.  Stockton . 

Louis  X.  Hammerling . . . 

Mrs.  Ella  Flagg  Young . 

Edward  J.  Tobin. . . 

Dr.  Graham  Taylor . 

How  Accidents  Occur  . . 

The  Overhanging  Platform  on  a  Curve . 

Bicycle  Rider  Struck  by  Auto  . 

The  Deadly  Saucepan  . 

Just  Let  Loose  from  School . 

Auto  Speeder  and  Children  Playing . 

A  Wrong  Signal  . 

The  Responsibility  of  Motormen . 

Safeguarding  a  Band  Saw . 

Lineman  Working  Without  Safety  Belt . 

The  Result  . 

Stop,  Look  and  Listen  . 

Adore  than  150  Victims  a  Year  from  Scalds . 

Struck  by  a  Freight  Car . 

David  Jones'  Locker  . 

After  the  Stock  Yards  Fire . 

The  Coroner's  Chemical  Laboratory . 

The  Need  of  Public  Safety  Instruction . 

After  the  Crib  Disaster  . 

Tipping  Kettle  of  Scalding  Water . 

The  Violation  of  an  Ordinance  . 

His  Life  Insurance  Paid  Up . .' . 

Insurance  Lapsed  and  Family  Left  Penniless . 

The  Fate  of  a  Trespasser  . 

Fred  Warren  . 


PAGE 
.  2 
.J 

.  0 
,.  11 
,  .  13 
,  .  15 
,  .  17 
,  .  19 
,.  21 


27 

30 

37 

43 

45 

47 

56 

60 

62 

64 

68 

69 

82 

95 

103 

112 

118 

122 

127 

128 
133 
135 

138 

139 

140 
160 


8 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


9 


C  MOffnr  ofloko 


CHARLES  M.  HAYES 
President  of  the  Chicago  Motor  Club  and 
President  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County 


10 


BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  SORRY 


The  Relation  of  the  Public  Safety  Movement 

to  the 

Coroner’s  Office 

TT 

By  GEORGE  H.  WHITTLE 

Ex-President  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County 

With  all  due  respect  to  the  humanitarianism  and  alertness  of  Peter 
M.  Hoffman,  the  Coroner  of  Cook  County,  it  may  be  said  without  chal¬ 
lenge  in  this  age  when  public  safety  and  human  conservation  are  engag¬ 
ing  the  attention  of  all  mankind,  that  it  was  part  of  the  course  of  events, 
a  natural  flowering  of  efficiency  both  inside  and  outside  the  Coroner’s 
office,  that  made  Mr.  Hoffman  the  logical  pioneer  to  suggest  the  organ¬ 
ization  of  the  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County. 

The  Coroner’s  office  is  the  vortex,  the  maelstrom  in  the  great  sea  of 
life  of  Chicago,  into  which  is  whirled  that  unfortunate  part  of  our  popu¬ 
lation  which  suddenly  and  violently  is  carri^  to  death  vdthout  warning 
and  without  recourse./  The  fact  that  the  great  majority  of  coroner’s  cases 
are  the  result  of  carelessness,  thoughtlessness  or  a  lack  of  foresight  either 
on  the  part  of  the  decedent  or  on  the  part  of  others  responsible  for  the 
surrounding  conditions  which  brought  sudden  death  to  the  victim,  makes 
the  records  and  experiences  of  the  Coroner’s  office  not  only  the  greatest 
motive  force  in  our  community  for  suggesting  organization  in  the  interest 
of  safety,  but  the  compilation  of  the  Coroner’s  records  into  tables  and 
classifications  will  continue  to  supply  the  figures  not  only  to  guide  the 
Public  Safety  Commission  in  its  future  labors  and  deliberations,  but  they 
will  constitute  the  lessons  by  which  safety  will  be  taught  through  the  me¬ 
dium  of  the  schools,  the  churches  and  the  newspapers. 

Independent  then  of  individual  effort,  the  coming  into  existence  of 
OUT  Safety  Commission  is  part  of  the  spirit  of  the  times,  an  expression  of 
a  movement  that  is  sweeping  the  whole  world.  Nothing  can  be  of  greater 
importar^e  than  the  lives  of  men,  women  and  childrenzf-the  greatest  asset 
of  every  community;  and  future  legislation  and  jurisprudence  will  be  more 
lavish  in  expending  funds  to  protect  human  life  than  for  any  other  purpose. 

There  is  a  phase  of  the  Safety  First  movement  that  is  an  expression 
of  something  far  deeper  even  than  the  safeguarding  of  the  physical  life  of 
human  beings;  it  is  an  expression  of  our  conscious  relationship  with  one 
another,  an  awakening  of  a  spiritual  quality  and  sympathy,  upon  which 
genuine  future  progress  and  prosperity  must  depend. 

Our  present  economic  and  political  system  still  retains  in  its  struggle 
for  existence  far  too  much  of  what  may  be  called  primitive  animal  ethics, 
and  this  safety  movement  in  the  interest  of  all  expresses  a  clear  realization 
of  our  kinship  with  one  another  as  members  of  the  one  great  human  family, 
in  which  all  should  co-operate  to  protect  and  safeguard  the  rest. 

Mr.  Hoffman’s  actual  contact  with  more  than  forty-one  thousand 
cases  during  the  past  nine  years  has  placed  him  in  a  position  to  realize 
first  hand  the  widespread  character  of  avoidable  suffering  that  takes  place 
in  these  thousands  of  homes.  To  him  it  has  not  been  a  written  story  from 
the  printed  page,  but  the  actual  contact  with  life  itself,  in  which  strong  men, 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


11 


GEORGE  H.  WHITTLE 

The  First  President  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County 


12 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


able,  willing  and  actively  engaged  in  providing  for  their  wives  and  chil¬ 
dren,  have  been  cut  off  without  warning.  He  has  seen  the  wrecked  homes 
and  heard  the  cries  of  the  bereft. 

Out  of  countless  experiences  such  as  these  has  developed  a  realization 
on  the  part  of  Mr.  Hoffman  and  others  similarly  situated  in  many  populous 
centers,  that  service  to  the  dead  and  to  the  state  has  a  wider  and  broader 
significance,  in  fact  has  initiated  the  gathering,  preserving  and  classifying 
of  records  of  all  such  fatalities,  out  of  which  to  create  a  great  motive  force 
to  be  applied  in  service  to  the  living. 

While,  then,  the  Coroner’s  office  is  the  source  from  which  all  of  this 
information  must  naturally  be  obtained,  too  great  praise  cannot  be  be¬ 
stowed  for  the  keenness  of  insight  and  originality  which  prompted  the  Cor¬ 
oner  to  act,  for  it  is  due  to  his  forceful  initiative  that  the  Safety  Commis¬ 
sion  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County  was  organized,  and  it  is  with  the  greatest 
pleasure  that  I  take  this  opportunity  to  make  due  acknowledgment  to 
'  the  creative  mind  of  Mr.  Hoffman,  and  bestow  honor  where  honor  is  due. 

The  total  number  of  sudden,  accidental  and  violent  deaths  whi6h 
make  up  the  records  of  the  Coroner’s  office  during  the  past  nine  years  is 
41 ,692,  with  1913,  just  closed,  furnishing  by  far  the  largest  for  any  one  year, 
viz.,  5,648,  and  the  Coroner’s  statistician  has  shown  that  these  deaths 
and  accidents  occur  in  uniform  ratios;  the  number  who  fall  or  are  killed 
on  the  streets  in  various  ways,  who  commit  suicide,  who  fall  out  of  win¬ 
dows  and  down  stairs,  who  are  injured  by  street  cars,  automobiles  and  horse 
vehicles,  are  so  thoroughly  a  part  of  what  is  referred  to  by  some  sociologists 
asa  “  Law  of  Momentum,”*  that  by  classifying  them  according  to  the  way 
in  which  all  the  premature  deaths  have  occurred  during  the  past  ten  years, 
we  know  almost  exactly  the  ways  in  which  they  will  occur  during  the  next 
ten  years,  and  how  many  there  will  be  of  each  class,  unless  the  most 
strenuous  organized  effort,  backed  by  adequate  financial  support,  is 
employed. 

The  exceptional  statistical  information  that  the  officers  of  the  Pub¬ 
lic  Safety  Commission  have  obtained  from  the  Coroner  has  convinced 
them  of  the  necessity  of  a  concerted  educational  movement  to  teach  old 
and  young  to  avoid  the  many  and  various  ways  in  which  accidents  and 
fatalities  occur,  that  the  records  of  the  future  may  be  made  to  show  a  de¬ 
crease  instead  of  the  constant  increase  that  is  observable  in  the  Coroner’s 
records  for  the  past  ten  years. 

After  centuries  of  slumber,  the  spirit  of  conservation  of  human  life 
has  sprung  into  action.  We  are  no  longer  satisfied  with  the  mere  conser¬ 
vation  of  our  so  called  natural  resources,  as  human  life  is  admittedly  the 
greatest  resource  the  world  has.  There  are  now  more  than  twenty  safety 
exhibits  and  public  welfare  museums  in  foreign  lands,  nearly  every  prom¬ 
inent  railway,  street  railway  and  industrial  organization  in  the  United 
States  has  appointed  safety  officers  and  inspectors  or  has  safety  depart¬ 
ments  with  many  employes  in  full  operation,  and  it  is  a  credit  to  Chicago 
that  we  are  in  the  lead  and  not  falling  behind  the  rest  of  the  world  in  this 
respect. 

In  connection  with  the  organization  of  the  Public  Safety  Commis¬ 
sion  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County,  the  fullest  acknowledgment  must 
be  made  to  the  Chicago  daily  papers  for  the  splendid  manner  in  which 
they  have  assisted  in  carrying  on  the  campaign  and  giving  a  publicity  to 
the  movement  that  made  the  organized  effort  possible.  Acknowledg¬ 
ment  must  also  be  made  to  Professor  Graham  Taylor,  and  to  Louis  N. 
Hammerling,  of  New  York  City,  President  of  the  American  Association 


•Herbert  Spencer’s  “First  Principles,” 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


13 


DR.  WILLIAM  E.  BUEHLER 
Ex-President  Public  Safety  Commission 


14 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


of  Foreign-Language  Newspapers,  Inc.,  who  by  the  widest  circulation 
of  Safety  First  material  ahd  by  magnanimous  financial  aid  that  is  fully 
appreciated  by  the  Commission,  has  done  so  much  to  push  the  work  for¬ 
ward. 

The  Safety  Commission  now  includes  in  its  membership  the  Mayor, 
the  Chief  of  the  Fire  Department,  the  Superintendent  of  Police  and  other 
officials  of  the  city  and  county,  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  both  Protestant 
and  Catholic,  safety  experts  of  various  railroad  companies,  industries 
and  street  railways,  engineers,  judges,  labor  union  officials,  attorneys, 
physicians,  business  men  and  women,  philanthropists  and  publishers  of 
English  and  foreign  language  newspapers.  The  schools  have  opened  their 
doors,  and  our  lecturers  have  given  talks  on  “Safety”  to  over  400,000 
children.  The  churches  have  had  a  “Safety  Day,”  and  more  than  1,800 
ministers  and  Sunday  School  superintendents  preached  public  safety  on 
that  day,  and  the  newspapers  have  given  thousands  of  columns  to  the 
public  safety  movement. 

While  legal  obstacles  have  thus  far  prevented  the  Commissioners  of 
Cook  County  from  giving  financial  support  through  the  county  treasury  to 
the  Public  Safety  Commission,  as  was  expected,  and  while  similar  causes 
have  interfered  with  an  appropriation  from  the  city,  the  work  of  the  Com¬ 
mission  has  continued  unfalteringly  to  attain  its  object  and  reduce  to  a 
minimum  the  killing  and  maiming  of  men,  women  and  children  upon  our 
streets,  in  the  homes,  in  industrial  plants,  office  buildings  and  upon  rail¬ 
roads  or  wherever  preventable  accidents  occur.  Our  special  committee 
on  railroad  accidents  and  legislation  is  doing  everything  possible  to  secure 
the  passage  of  laws  to  prevent  walking  upon  railroad,  tracks,  a  form  of 
carelessness  that  last  year  alone  cost  Cook  County  400  lives  and  caused 
some  3,000  accidents. 

During  its  short  existence  the  Commission  has  investigated  more  than 
600  complaints  relative  to  automobiles,  most  of  them  telephoned  (Main 
1000)  to  its  headquarters  in  the  Otis  Building.  In  only  a  few  cases  was 
prosecution  found  necessary,  letters  sent  to  the  owners  of  cars  complained 
of  usually  bringing  about  the  desired  results. 

The  fact  that  up  to  date  the  Commission  has  been  unable  to  secure 
the  financial  assistance  of  the  city  and  county  has,  as  stated,  interfered  with 
its  efficiency  to  a  great  extent,  still  enough  public  spirited  citizens  are 
responding  to  the  call  for  financial  aid  so  that  the  Commission  is  able. to 
carry  on  its  propaganda,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  records  of  accidents  and 
fatalities  for  1914  will  show  a  marked  decrease  as  a  result  of  these  activities. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


15 


GEORGE  W.  DIXON 

Treasurer  Public  Safety  Commission,  1915 


16 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  vSORRY 


Public  Safety  Commission 

OF  Chicago  and  Cook  County 

OTIS  BUILDING,  CHICAGO 


OFFICERS ; 

Charles  M.  Hayes,  President  John  T.  Stockton,  Vice-President 

George  W.  Dixon,  Treasurer 

DIRECTORS 

William  E.  Buehler,  M.  D.  Chas.  A.  McCulloch 

Samuel  A.  Ettelson  John  T.  Stockton 

Chas.  M.  Hayes  George  H.  Whittle 

Peter  M.  Hoffman  George  W.  Dixon 

GENERAL  COUNSEL 

Samuel  A.  Ettelson 

BUSINESS  MANAGER  SECRETARY 

Walter  C.  Hedrick  ''  William  Burgess 


Objects  of  the  Commission 

To  safeguard  and  protect  persons  and  the  public 
from  the  dangers  of  automobiles,  railroads,  street 
railways,  and  all  forms  of  transportation  and 
traffic  on  the  public  highways  in  Chicago  and 
Cook  County. 

To  minimize  the  injuring  or  killing  of  persons  on 
the  public  highways  therein,  and  in  stores,  factor¬ 
ies,  workshops,  and  all  other  departments  of 
industrial  or  mercantile  employment  or  activity. 

To  investigate  and  classify  the  causes  of  violent 
death  and  of  injury.  To  ascertain,  advocate  and 
secure  possible  remedies  and  preventives  of 
the  same. 

To  enlighten  and  educate  the  public  through 
schools,  churches,  literature,  and  by  publicity 
upon  all  matters  and  things  pertinent  to  the  fore¬ 
going  subjects,  and  to  compile  and  preserve  sta¬ 
tistics  regarding  same. 

To  assist  in  the  enactment  and  enforcement  of 
regulations,  ordinances  and  laws  necessary  or 
requisite  to  carry  out  the  foregoing  purposes. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


17 


JOHN  T.  STOCKTON 

Vice-President  Public  Safety  Commission,  1915 


18 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAX  SORRY 


Safety  Crusade  in  Foreign  Languages 

TT 

By  LOUIS  N.  HAMMERLIN(L  New  York 

President  American  Association  of  Foreign- Language  Newspapers 


Since  I  am  not  a  “safety”  expert,  I  cannot  speak  with  authority  on 
the  technical  side  of  the  movement.  That  aspect  I  must  leave  to  those 
who  have  given  their  time  and  energy  to  a  special  and  minute  study  of 
modern  safety  devices  and  their  respective  values. 

No  one,  however,  is  more  concerned  than  I  am  that  human  life  shall 
be  conserved  as  far  as  possible.  As  a  foreign-bom  citizen  I  am  particu¬ 
larly  and  profoundly  solicitous  that  the  millions  of  my  fellow-foreign-born 
residents  of  this  great  country  shall  enjoy  as  full  a  measure  of  health  and 
happiness  as  can  be  secured  to  them,  since  it  is  they  who  bear  the  larger 
share  of  accidents  and  fatalities.  I  would  gladly  lend  my  support  to  any 
cause 'which  shall  bring  greater  joy  into  their  homes. 

From  the  beginning  of  things,  man  has  never  been  engaged  in  a  more 
noble  work  than  that  of  protecting  and  prolonging  the  life  of  his  fellow. 
It  is  the  divinest  function  of  which  the  human  race  is  capable.  The  busi¬ 
ness  of  safeguarding  life  was  formerly  left  largely  to  the  physicians  and 
surgeons;  then  came  the  discovery  of  the  importance  of  sanitation;  next 
came  the  invention  and  multiplication  of  safety  devices  and  measures  of 
precaution;  and  now  there  is  a  movement  throughout  the  country  to  make 
these  known  as  safeguards,  effective  through  legal  enactments  and  pop¬ 
ular  education. 

I  have  watched  with  the  deepes.t  gratification  the  excellent  results 
already  attained  by  the  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook 
County,  of  which  the  distinguished  Coroner,  Peter  LI.  Hoffman,  is  the 
founder,  and  am  glad  indeed  that  its  influence  is  spreading  to  other  sections 
of  the  country.  The  American  Association  of  Foreign-Language  News¬ 
papers,  Inc.,  of  which  I  have  the  honor  to  be  president,  is  doing  its  share, 
through  its  66 1  newspapers  in  29  different  languages,  in  spreading  the  gospel 
of  “Safety  First.” 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


19 


LOUIS  N.  HAMMERLING 
Editor,  The  American  Leader 


20 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Safety  First 

▼▼ 

By  ELLA  FLAGG  YOUNG 

Superintendent  of  Schoolsy  Chicago 


In  1913  great  interest  was  aroused  in  the  subject  of  safety  in  the 
streets  of  a  great  city,  particularly  the  safety  of  children.  Immediately 
following  the  sounding  of  the  alarm  over  the  slaughter  of  children  through 
general  carelessness  in  the  streets,  this  bulletin  was  sent  to  every  school: 
“To  Principals  and  Teachers: 

“The  following  report,  prepared  by  a  committee  consisting  of 
District  Superintendents  English,  Sullivan  and  Lowry,  embodies 
suggestions  for  immediate  action  in  the  schools. 

“Every  year  there  is  a  distressingly  large  number  of  accidents 
in  the  streets  of  the  city.  During  the  year  1912,  there  were  83  chil¬ 
dren  killed  in  transportation  accidents  in  the  streets  of  Chicago. 
During  the  month  of  July,  22  persons  were  killed  by  automobiles. 
Of  these,  14  were  under  sixteen  years  of  age. 

“In  view  of  these  conditions,  there  is  a  responsibility  upon  the 
schools  to  do  whatever  is  possible  in  the  way  of  instructing  pupils 
as  to  the  proper  mode  of  conduct  in  the  streets,  for  their  own  safety 
and  that  of  others. 

“The  following  recommendations  are  made: 

“(a)  That  each  principal  designate  a  sufficient  time  during  the 
week  of  September  8-12  to  be  devoted  daily  by  the  teachers  of  the 
school  to  instructing  the  children  in  avoiding  accidents  in  which 
wagons,  street  cars,  automobiles,  and  motorcycles  are  involved;  that 
this  instruction  be  repeated  from  time  to  time. 

“(b)  That  teachers  generally  adopt  the  plan  of  reminding  the 
younger  children  at  each  dismissal  of  the  need  for  care  in  crossing 
the  streets. 

“(c)  That  the  older  children  be  encouraged  to  exercise  prudence 
in  their  own  movements  as  an  example  to  younger  children,  as  well 
as  to  insure  their  own  safety. 

“(d)  That  arrangements  be  made  for  securing  the  following 
lecture : 

“The  Chicago  Railways  Company  has  provided  a  series  of  reels 
of  moving  picture  films,  which  it  will  present  free  of  charge  in  any 
public  school.  These  films  show  accidents  to  passengers,  pedestrians, 
and  especially  to  children.  Several  scenes  show  automobile  accidents. 
Some  show  accidents  in  which  the  cars  are  not  concerned.  Some  ot 
the  most  startling  scenes  show  the  prevailing  type  of  automobile 
accidents,  where  pedestrians  cross  behind  one  car,  either  standing 
or  moving,  and  dodge  across  in  front  of  a  car  going  in  the  opposite 
direction.  Arrangements  for  this  lecture  may  be  made  through  Mr. 
H.  L.  Brownell,  Safety  Inspector  of  the  General  Safety  Committee, 
Chicago  Railways  Company,  600  Washington  Boulevard. 

“(e)  That  teachers  utilize  to  the  full,  material  on  this  subject 
in  the  latest  Report  of  the  Coroner,  a  sufficient  number  of  copies  of 
which  will  be  sent  to  the  schools  to  provide  one  for  each  teacher,” 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN!  21 


MRS.  ELLA  FLAGG  YOUNG 
Superintendent  Public  Schools,  Chicago 


22 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


SUGGESTIONS  FOR  THE  CHILDREN 

1.  Cross  the  street  at  regular  crossings,  not  in  the  middle  of  the 
block.  Even  if  your  school  is  situated  in  the  middle  of  the  block,  use  the 
regular  crossings.  During  1912  there  were  103  people  killed  at  railway 
and  street  car  crossings;  412  not  using  regular  crossings  were  killed. 

2.  Obey  the  police  signals  at  crossings:  one  whistle  means  “Go 
north  or  south”;  two,  “Go  east  or  west.” 

3.  Look  in  all  directions  before  crossing  the  street.  It  is  especially 
necessary  to  avoid  automobiles  turning  a  corner. 

4.  Do  not  cross  in  front  of  a  moving  vehicle;  wait  until  it  has  passed. 

5.  Danger  signals  from  automobiles  and  cars  should  be  heeded  by 
everyone  who  hears  or  sees  them;  they  are  meant  for  YOU. 

6.  Roller  skating  in  the  roadway  is  forbidden  by  the  ordinance  of 
the  City  Council,  June  2,  1913: 

“Be  it  ordained  by  the  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago: 

“Section  i.  That  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person  to  skate  on 
roller  or  ice  skates  upon  any  street  or  public  way  in  the  city,  except  on  the 
sidewalks  thereof,  and  at  street  intersections  while  crossing  from  one  side 
of  the  street  to  the  other. 

“Section  2.  Any  person  violating  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  ordi¬ 
nance  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  one  dollar  nor  more  than  twenty-five 
dollars  for  each  offense. 

“Section  3.  This  ordinance  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and 
after  its  passage  and  due  publication.” 

7.  Children  should  not  hitch  on  any  moving  vehicle. 

8.  The  danger  to  girls  in  riding  on  motorcycles  is  very  serious. 

9.  The  majority  of  accidents  to  children  do  not  happen  when  they 
are  going  to  school  or  returning  from  school.  There  is  great  danger  in 
playing  backward  and  forward  across  the  street,  running  across  the  street 
in  the  evening,  hurrying  to  the  show  or  the  store,  trying  to  overtake  com¬ 
panions,  running  after  a  hat. 

People  who  operate  vehicles  do  not  wish  to  run  over  either  children 
or  grown  people.  They  are  horrified  when  they  are  involved  in  accidents. 
Children  whose  friends  own  or  operate  automobiles,  motor  trucks  or  motor¬ 
cycles  can  help  to  prevent  accidents  by  telling  these  friends  that  the  chil¬ 
dren  are  doing  their  share  in  preventing  accidents,  and  asking  the  operators 
of  the  vehicles  to  do  as  much. 

Attention  is  directed  to  the  following  ordinance: 

“SECTION  2728G.  VEHICLES  NOT  TO  BE  OPERATED  BY 
PERSONS  UNDER  CERTAIN  AGE  OR  INCAPACITATED  FROM 
USING  HANDS  AND  ARMS  FREELY.—  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any 
person  who  is  under  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  any 
person  who  is  under  eighteen  years  of  age,  unless  accompanied  by  parent, 
guardian  or  other  adult  person,  or  for  any  person  who  is  incapacitated 
from  using  freely  his  or  her  arms  or  hands,  or  who  is  incapacitated  from 
freely  using  both  feet,  to  operate  any  motor  vehicle  or  motorcycle  on  any 
street,  alley,  or  public  place  of  the  city,  or  for  any  owner  of  a  motor 
vehicle  or  motorcycle  to  permit  any  person  subject  to  the  disqualifications 
or  incapacity  above  mentioned  to  operated  a  motor  vehicle  or  motorcycle 
on  any  street,  alley,  or  public  place  of  this  city.”  Passed  December  ii, 
191 1. 

Coroner  Hoffman  succeeded  in  securing  the  co-operation  of  citizens 
to  the  extent  of  their  giving  time  to  visit  the  public  schools  and  there  to 
address  the  children  on  the  avoidance  of  risks  and  some  methods  of  insur- 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


23 


ing  safety  for  themselves  and  other  children.  These  brief  addresses  made 
a  deep  impression  on  the  pupils.  There  were  two  reasons  for  the  serious 
interest  taken  in  them:  hrst,  a  realization  of  the  fact  that  the  city  cares 
for  its  boys  and  girls  to  such  a  remarkable  degree  that  men,  business  men 
and  professional  men,  will  put  aside  their  own  affairs  and  go  to  the  schools 
to  warn  the  pupils  of  many  dangers  that  threaten  them  in  the  streets  and 
roads  and  then  to  point  out  the  ways  of  avoiding  accidents;  second,  enjoy¬ 
ment  in  seeing  and  hearing  strangers  with  a  pleasing  address  enter  the 
school  room  or  assembly  hall,  and  in  a  direct  yet  breezy  style  give  to  a 
familiar  subject  a  new  and  suggestive  setting. 

The  concentration  of  attention  on  Safety  First  has  had  a  marked 
influence  throughout  the  city.  In  going  about  one  notices  within  the  last 
year  a  readier  response  to  the  automobile  horns  by  all  children,  including 
those  who  have  not  reached  kindergarten  age. 

Hereafter,  on  a  given  day,  a  part  of  the  session  will  be  devoted  m  every 
school  room  in  the  public  school  system  annually  to  Safety  First. 

If  Coroner  Hoffman  could  have  a  date  determined  by  action  of  the 
Mayor  of  the  city,  as  October  ninth  is  heralded  by  a  letter  from  the  Mayor, 
a  certain  civic  interest  in  Safety  First  would  pervade  the  city  on  that  day, 
and  as  a  result  not  only  in  the  schools,  but  in  the  homes,  the  shops,  and  all 
other  places  of  business  would  Safety  First  be  a  common  topic  of  conver¬ 
sation  for  the  day. 

In  industrial  classes,  in  upper  grammar  grades  and  in  vocational 
classes  in  high  schools,  there  is  given  under  the  title  of  civics  instruction 
in  the  laws  made  for  the  protection  of  those  whose  work  is  with  machines. 
Boys  and  girls  going  out  into  the  industrial  fields  should  be  informed  of 
the  dangers  attendant  upon  working  with  power  machinery,  but  nothing 
that  invention  can  devise  to  protect  the  worker  can  compare  with  a  mind 
trained  in  early  lite  to  habits  of  carefulness  in  noting  the  environment 
and  the  conditions  under  which  movements  are  safely  made.  Upon  arriv¬ 
ing  at  a  street  crossing,  upon  alighting  from  a  car,  the  habit  of  quickly 
(not  feverishly)  surveying  the  conditions  and  then  deciding  where  the 
path  of  safety  lies  is  invaluable. 

To  cultivate  the  habit  of  careful  alertness  and  ready  projection  of 
the  course  to  follow  is  to  develop  a  higher  degree  of  mentality.  Not  only 
the  preservation  of  life,  but  clearer  and  more  decisive  thinking  will  result 
from  intelligent  training  of  our  children  in  Safety  First. 


24 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


“Safety  First“  in  the  Schools 

▼  T 

By  EDWARD  J.  TOBIN 
County  Superintendent  of  Schools 


I  In  a  complicated  society  like  ours,  especially  in  great  centers  of  popu¬ 
lation,  where  each  one’s  safety  depends  upon  the  efficient  performance  of 
duty  by  many  others,  the  individual  does  not  control  his  own  physical 
safety  as  completely  as  in  more  primitive  times. 

Self-preservation  is  the  first  law  of  nature.  In  the  remote  days  when 
man  lived  simply,  this  instinct,  so  deeply  rooted  in  all  life,  enabled  him  to 
evade  his  enemies  and  escape  accidents.  Our  ancestors  of  the  caves  and 
trees  proved  by  their  own  survival  that  they  were  proficient  in  protecting 
themselves  from  their  human  and  animal  enemies,  but  if  some  of  them  were 
suddenly  transplanted  out  of  the  past  into  the  heart  of  one  of  our  modern 
cities,  they  would  discover  such  multitudinous  dangers  on  all  sides  that 
only  the  most  sturdy  and  alert  of  their  race  could  hope  to  survive— an 
exemplification  of  the  law  of  natural  selection. 

In  these  civilized  times  we  are  not  content  to  wait  on  nature’s  grim 
process  of  eliminating  the  unfit.  Humanitarianism  inclines  us  to  instruct 
and  train  our  people  while  they  are  young  and  in  the  process  of  forming 
their  habits,  to  combat  and  avoid  the  destroying  enemies  that  lurk  in  our 
streets  and  workshops. 

In  this  campaign  of  education,  it  is  well  to  remember  that  we  can¬ 
not  straighten  the  oak  after  it  has  been  bent  and  twisted'  by  the  storms 
of  many  winters,  so  if  we  wish  to  form  habits  that  will  insure  “Safety 
First’’  principles,  we  must  begin  with  the  children  in  our  elementary 
schools,  and  keep  it  up.  We  become  interested  in  the  subjects  we  study, 
think  and  read  about,  but  impressions  of  childhood  are  easily  effaced, 
except  when  lessons  are  constantly  repeated  and  reviewed. 

If  the  schools  would  grasp  the  opportunity  to  have  these  impressions 
vividly  implanted  in  the  pla&tie  minds  of  their  pupils,  all  the  children  of 
all  the  people  would  study,  read  and  think  about  ‘-^^Safety^ifst ’’  principles 
which  should  be  taught  in  all  the  classes  in  all '  tlie  schools.  Nothing 
dignifies  a  subject  pertaining  to  public  welfare  like  having  it  studied  and 
read  about  in  the  schools.  It  is  paramount  that  we  try  to  check  the  awful 
loss  of  life  and  limb,  misery  and  poverty,  sorrow  and  misfortunes  brought 
about  by  carelessness  and  thoughtlessness.  Practical  knowledge  on  the 
lines  of  “Safety  First”  principles  taught  by  the  application  method  should 
prove  a  specific  rerhedy. 

We  need  “Safety  First”  literature  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  diff¬ 
erent  grades.  (3ur  best  writers  for  children  ought  to  find  a  fruitful  oppor¬ 
tunity  in  producing  beautifully  illustrated  supplementary  reading  adapted 
in  content  and  vocabulary  to  the  pupils  of  the  different  grades,  dramati¬ 
cally  depicting  stories,  fables  and  poetry  that  would  impress  upon  the 
child’s  mind  the  need  of  being  ever  on  the  alert  if  he  is  to  keep  himself 
and  others  from  harm. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


25 


EDWARD  J.  TOBIN 


Superintendent  of  Schools,  Cook  County,  Illinois 


2f) 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


The  Coroner’s  Office  and  Public  Safety 

▼▼ 

By  GRAHAM  TAYLOR 
Ex-Vice-President  Public  Safety  Commission 


It  was  Coroner  Peter  M.  Hoffman,  of  Cook  County,  Ill.,  who 
first  officially  called  upon  his  fellow-citizens  in  Chicago  and  outlying  towns 
to  help  stop  the  killing  and  maiming  of  men,  women  and  children  on  our 
streets,  in  our  shops  and  at  our  homes.  In  so  doing,  Mr.  Hoffman  sets  a 
new  type  and  standard  of  public  service  for  the  office  of  Coroner,  which 
his  fellow- officials  everywhere  may  wisely  and  well  aspire  to  emulate. 
Hitherto  the  function  of  the  Coroner  has  been  stupidly  regarded,  both  by 
the  public  and  by  incumbents  of  that  office,  as  dealing  chieffy  if  not  only 
with  death.  The  duty  of  this  official  everywhere  is  to  inquire  into  the 
causes  of  deaths  occurring  under  unusual  or  suspicious  circumstances,  or 
by  accident.  It  has  been  fulfilled  more  with  the  idea  of  punishing  those 
responsible  for  the  loss  of  life  than  to  prevent  a  recurrence  of  the  causes 
of  death. 

But  Coroner  Hoffman  was  so  stirred  by  the  frightful  increase  of  fatal¬ 
ities  and  the  burden  of  sorrow  and  loss  imposed  by  them,  that  he  could 
stand  under  the  load  alone  no  longer.  To  his  call  for  help  and  helpers  a 
quick  and  strong  response  came  from  Chicago.  Citizens  representing 
the  great  railway,  express  and  teaming  companies;  the  street  railways  and 
the  automobile  interests  and  club;  the  Illinois  Steel  Company  and  other 
great  manufacturing  concerns;  the  judiciary,  the  church,  the  schools, 
the  Council,  the  Association  of  Commerce  and  the  Federation  of  Labor, 
now  constitute  the  commission  of  one  hundred  members. 

Employers,  officials  and  lawmakers  may  do  much  to  prevent  accidents, 
but  safety  can  be  assured  far  more  by  parents  and  teachers,  by  children 
and  youth,  by  employes  at  work  and  people  on  the  streets,  who  are  warned 
and  instructed  to  take  care  of  themselves  and  are  interested  and  inspired 
to  take  care  of  others.  Education  and  publicity  are  thus  the  chief  means 
by  which  the  safety  movement  can  succeed.  Coroner  Hoffman’s  initi¬ 
ative  deserves  to  be  followed  up  by  volunteer  co-operation  as  the  best 
investment  that  can  be  made  by  public  officials  and  private  citizens  to  save 
life  and  prevent  suffering.  It  means  fewer  inquests  and  fees  for  the  Cor¬ 
oner’s  office,  but  more  health  and  wealth  for  the  community. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


27 


DR.  GRAHAM  TAYLOR 

Vice*President  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County 


28 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


The  Automobile  Court  of  Chicago 

ww 

By  Judge  SHERIDAN  E.  FRY 

The  so-called  “Speeders’  Court”  held  its  first  session  June  5,  1912. 
The  court  was  called  into  existence  as  an  emergency  proposition;  many 
people  were  being  killed  and  injured  by  reckless  drivers.  There  had  been 
no  uniformity  in  the  work  of  the  branch  courts  in  dealing  with  automo¬ 
bile  violators.  To  deal  intelligently  with  this  problem  it  was  necessary  to 
have  one  central  court.  The  work  of  that  court  and  the  results  attained 
have  more  than  justified  its  organization  and  continuance.  Judges  of 
the  court,  citizens  generally,  the  automobile  public  and  automobile  row 
would  protest  against  its  abolition. 

After  the  work  of  the  court  had  been  well  established  there  was  an 
insistent  demand  that  the  class  of  cases  assigned  to  that  court  should  be 
extended  to  include  all  automobile  violations;  in  other  words,  “Speeders’ 
Court”  should  become  “Automobile  Court.”  This  extension  was  made 
April  7,  1913. 

As  presiding  judge  of  that  court  for  more  than  a  year  I  had  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  study  conditions  and  formulate  some  ideas  as  to  needed  legis¬ 
lation.  It  is  not  surprising  in  Chicago,  considering  the  enormous  growth 
of  the  automobile  business,  that  additional  legislation  will  be  required. 

In  the  court  year,  ending  December  6,  1913,  I  disposed  of  12,892 
cases.  Of  that  number  4,976  were  charged  with  violation  of  speed  laws. 
The  balance  were  minor  violations,  pertaining  to  lights,  licenses,  etc. 

Practically  all  cases  charged  with  speeding  were  going  at  least  twenty- 
five  miles  an  hour.  The  i  ,527  cases  tried  in  June,  July  and  August,  charged 
with  violating  speed  laws,  showed  the  following  rates  of  speed.  This  is 
perhaps  a  fair  average  of  all  cases  tried: 

27  cases  less  than  25  miles  an  hour 
404  cases  at  25  miles  an  hour 
271  cases  at  26  miles  an  hour 
248  cases  at  27  miles  an  hour 
178  cases  at  28  miles  an  hour 
89  cases  at  29  miles  an  hour 
1 13  cases  at  30  miles  an  hour 
36  cases  at  31  miles  an  hour 
35  cases  at  32  miles  an  hour 
22  cases  at  33  miles  an  hour 
17  cases  at  34  miles  an  hour 
1 1  cases  at  36  miles  an  hour 
49  cases  from  37  to  50  miles  an  hour,  inclusive. 

An  investigation  of  the  210  automobile  accidents  in  June,  1913,  as 
reported  to  the  police,  indicates  that  from  three  to  seven  o’clock  A.  M. 
is  the  safest  time  to  be  on  the  street.  Only  one  party  was  injured  in  June 
between  those  hours.  It  is  also  much  safer  on  the  streets  in  the  forenoon 
than  the  afternoon.  48  of  the  accidents  happened  from  12  midnight  to 
12  noon;  of  this  number  16  occurred  before  3  A.  M.;  163  occurred  from  12 
noon  to  12  midnight;  in  the  first  four  hours  of  the  afternoon,  from  12  to 
4,  there  were  42  accidents.  The  danger  zone  is  from  4  to  7  P.  M.,  with 
64  accidents,  and  the  5  hours  from  7  to  12  had  57  accidents. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


29 


These  same  210  accidents  disclosed  these  interesting  facts  as  to  place 
of  accidents.  The  number  of  accidents  occurring  in  each  mile  zone  away 
from  the  court  house  were  as  follows: 


Miles  from  Number  of 

Court  House  Accidents 


1  .  45 

2  .  16 

3  .  35 

4  .  29 

5  .  24 

6  .  15 

7  . 13 

8  .  8 

9 .  9 

10  .  3 

11  .  I 

12  .  4 

13  .  3 

14  .  I 


One  comes  to  the  conclusion  that  not  only  is  there  no  time  of  the  day, 
but  no  section  of  the  city  of  absolute  safety. 

Is  not  the  pace  too  fast?  Will  it  not  be  necessary  to  have  a  fixed  rate 
of  speed?  In  this  the  careful,  skilled  driver  will  have  to  suffer  because  of 
the  follies  of  the  reckless.  Can  we  trust  to  the  judgment  of  the  unskilled, 
reckless  driver  as  to  what  is  a  “reasonable  rate  of  speed”?  To  curb  him, 
some  unreasonable  restrictions  must  be  thrown  around  the  skilled,  safe 
driver;  that  is  always  necessary  in  the  regulation  of  human  society. 

My  conclusion  is  that  in  the  city  of  Chicago  a  rate  of  speed  of  ten 
miles  on  a  business  street,  fifteen  miles  on  a  residence  street,  twenty  miles 
in  the  outlying  sections,  and  twenty-five  miles  on  a  country  road,  should 
be  the  maximum  rates  of  speed  permitted  by  law,  and  then  enforce  the  law. 
Conditions  will  demand  that  the  driver  must  be  licensed.  Men  and  boys 
irresponsible  and  reckless,  who  never  drove  a  horse,  never  heard  of  the 
rules  of  the  road,  familiar  to  every  country  boy,  with  no  mechanical  knowl¬ 
edge  or  driving  experience,  propel  high-powered  cars  through  our  streets 
at  a  rate  of  speed  of  from  25  to  50  miles  an  hour.  That  condition  cannot 
long  be  tolerated. 

Sec.  2484a,  Chicago  Code  1911,  is  a  Public  Safety  ordinance,  direct¬ 
ing  the  driver  of  a  vehicle  on  approaching  a  car  to  stop  ten  feet  back  while 
passengers  get  on  or  off.  Through  the  work  of  the  Speeders’  Court  this 
ordinance  is  pretty  well  understood  and  obeyed. 

The  statute  should  be  amended  so  as  to  prohibit  unlicensed  drivers 
from  operating  cars,  and  the  penalty  for  a  violation  should  be  fine  or  im¬ 
prisonment,  or  both,  in  the  discretion  of  the  court. 

Section  10  of  the  Motor  Vehicle  Law  should  be  amended  so  that  while 
*  retaining  the  reasonable  rate  of  speed  idea,  the  rates  heretofore  suggested 
should  be  the  maximum,  and  the  penalty  clause  should  be  amended  so  that 
the  judge,  in  his  discretion,  could  impose  fine,  imprisonment  or  both;  the 
reckless  and  habitual  speeder  should  be  jailed. 

The  Motor  Vehicle  Law  should  be  amended  to  prohibit  an  intoxi¬ 
cated  person  from  operating  a  car.  The  penalty  for  a  violation  should 
be  by  fine  and  imprisonment. 

I  believe  these  several  suggested  amendments  enacted  into  law  would 
be  a  boon  for  public  safety.  After  all,  that  is  what  automobile  laws  and 
regulations  are  for. 


30 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


How  Accidents  Occur 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


31 


Safeguarding  Life  and  Limb 

TT 

By  Judge  MARCUS  A.  KAVANAUGH 


The  pioneer  work  of  Coroner  Hoffman  in  the  line  of  Public  Safety 
seems  to  me  of  such  overwhelming  importance  that  I  have  no  words  with 
which  to  properly  characterize  it.  The  dangers  he  points  out  and  the  need 
for  care  indicated  in  this  report  cannot  be  given  too  wide  a  publicity. 
Judged  by  their  contributions  to  the  relief  of  unfortunates  the  people  of 
this  country  are  perhaps  the  most  generous  race  in  the  world,  still  nowhere 
else  on  earth  is  human  life  and  physical  suffering  held  so  cheap.  There 
are  about  13,500  common  lawsuits  now  pending  in  the  Superior  and  Cir¬ 
cuit  Courts  of  Cook  County.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  two-thirds  of  these  are 
for  death  or  injury.  The  procession  of  cripples,  widows  and  orphans, 
which  day  after  day,  year  after  year  pass  through  the  corridors  of  the  court 
house  is  an  irresistible  appeal  to  everyone  to  co-operate  in  this  great  work 
in  the  interest  of  safeguarding  human  life.  Coroner  Hoffman  has  initiated 
a  new  phase  of  public  service. 

HOW  ACCIDENTS  OCCUR 

The  women  and  the  children  shown  on  the  opposite  page  have  just 
passed  around  the  end  of  the  car  from  which  they  alighted.  Should  they 
rush  across  in  front  of  the  moving  car  coming  from  the  opposite  direction, 
they  could  not  escape  being  struck  by  the  automobile  coming  at  high 
speed.  This  is  one  of  the  most  frequent  occurrences  among  automobile 
accidents. 


We  Learn  by  Experience 

I  regret  that  the  community  is  not  as  thoroughly  aroused  as  it  should 
be  on  the  subject  of  educating  the  public  to  the  need  of  safeguarding  life 
and  limb  in  every  way  that  ingenuity  and  humanitarianism  can  contrive, 
for  no  effort  should  be  spared  in  carrying  this  message  of  education  into 
homes,  schools,  churches  and  newspapers  of  Chicago  until  catastrophes, 
avoidable  accidents  and  premature  deaths  are  reduced  to  the  minimum. 

The  statistics  of  my  office  and  of  the  city  police,  health  and  fire  depart¬ 
ments  are  proof  that  on  the  whole  we  are  a  careless,  heedless  community, 
and  that  we  lack  foresight,  not  only  in  relation  to  the  smaller  accidents 
and  trivial  mistakes  of  life,  but  in  connection  with  the  general  manage¬ 
ment  of  ourselves,  our  homes,  factories,  streets,  etc. 

In  1912  there  were  more  accidental  deaths  in  the  homes  of  Chicago 
than  there  were  on  the  streets;  from  asphyxiation,  falling  down  stairs, 
out  of  windows,  from  porches,  and  the  burning,  scalding  and  smothering 
of  little  children  and  babes*- _ _ 

We  learn  by  experience,  and  it  is  because  the  coroner’s  office  is  the 
“storm  center”  for  all  violent  deaths  and  fatal  accidents,  bringing  me  and 
my  assistants  into  touch  with  all  this  class  of  misery  and  suffering  in  the 
community,  that  this  department  becomes  the  natural  source  from  which 
knowledge  must  radiate  in  order  to  correct  in  the  future  the  avoidable 
blunders  of  the  past. 


32 


BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  SORRY 


The  reason  our  statistical  records  are  kept  with  the  greatest  possible 
accuracy  is  because  guessing  and  drawing  conclusions  from  whim  or  prev¬ 
ious  ideas  on  a  subject  will  not  do.  Statistics  is  organized,  classified  expe¬ 
rience  and  is  the  only  reliable  guide  to  employ  in  public  affairs. 

Our  statistics  have  been  so  well  kept  for  the  past  ten  years  that  we 
know  to  the  extent  that  present  conditions  continue,  almost  exactly  how 
many  accidents  and  fatalities  there  will  be  in  1915  and  1916,  how 
many  street  car,  automobile,  horse  vehicle,  elevator  accidents,  etc.,  there 
will  be,  and  about  how  many  will  occur  in  each  of  the  various  ways,  and  we 
are  tabulating  and  classifying  these  accidents  and  fatalities  according  to 
the  way  in  which  they  occur,  in  order  that  the  information  may  be  used 
in  teachers’  class  books  in  the  schools,  to  teach  how  to  avoid  accidents 
by  showing  the  way  in  which  they  occur. 

In  this  campaign  of  sanity  it  is  the  duty  of  every  citizen  who  observes 
violations  of  laws,  ordinances  or  common  sense  in  the  interest  of  safety, 
to  immediately  telephone  the  Public  Safety  Commission,  Main  1000, 
making  as  complete  a  report  of  all  the  surrounding  conditions  as  possible, 
and  the  officers  of  the  Commission  will  make  it  their  business  to  do  every¬ 
thing  in  their  power  in  the  way  of  a  remedy. 

The  within  tables  and  classifications  extracted  from  the  records  of 
1912  and  1913  disclose  certain  truths  as  regards  the  uniform  recurrence 
each  year  of  twelve  different  kinds  of  accidents  from  falling,  ten  different 
ways  of  committing  suicide,  eight  different  methods  of  homicide,  fifteen 
kinds  of  automobile  accidents,  twelve  classes  of  street  car  accidents,  etc., 
and  show  the  need  of  a  comprehensive  department  of  statistics  for  the  state 
of  Illinois,  with  statistical  bureaus  in  each  county  and  city;  and  in  this 
connection  Chicago  now  stands  in  the  greatest  need  of  a  standardized 
system  of  municipal  statistics  for  all  the  city  departments  and  bureaus. 
It  is  only  by  this  means  that  correct  conclusions  can  be  drawn  in  relation 
to  public  policy  and  thus  insure  a  higher  degree  of  political  and  social 
efficiency. 

It  has  been  truly  observed  that  there  is  no  humanitarian  function 
which  exceeds  that  of  saving  life.  We  are  now  in  the  epoch  in  which  the 
entire  world  has  been  stirred  into  action  on  this  subject.  Museums  of  Pub¬ 
lic  Safety  and  safety- first  movements  have  been  established  in  foreign  lands 
as  well  as  in  every  state  in  this  Union.  Chicago  and  Cook  County  are  not 
behind  in  this  great  work,  and  while  our  Public  Safety  Commission  has  * 
not  yet  acquired  the  funds  to  carry  on  this  work  in  the  most  comprehensive 
and  effective  way,  there  is  no  doubt  but  our  citizens  will  shortly  formu¬ 
late  a  plan  to  place  the  Commission  of  nearly  one  hundred  representative 
men  and  women  members  upon  a  substantial  and  efficient  basis. 


Relative  Proportion  of  Automobile  Accidents 

Experience  is  the  Greatest  Teacher  and  Statistics  is 
the  Tabulated  and  Classified  Experience 

of  the  Past.” 

The  records  of  my  office  show  that  during  the  year  1912  there  were 
805  fatalities  in  the  homes  of  Chicago  as  against  772  on  the  streets,  ninety- 
eight  of  the  latter  being  caused  by  automobiles  and  fifty-seven  by  horse 
vehicles,  this  being  the  first  year  that  power  vehicles  surpassed  horse 
vehicles  in  the  number  of  accidents  and  fatalities  in  this  city. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


33 


It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  proper  tabulation  of  statistics  in  relation  to 
all  subiects  is  practically  going  to  overturn  the  old  method  of  guessing  at 
facts  and  figures,  this  for  the  reason  that  comparative  tables  are  so  much 
more  accurate  and  convincing  that  those  who  employ  other  methods  will 
become  discredited  and  gradually  disappear. 

Many  Killed  by  Falls — It  is  true  that  in  1913  there  were  more  than 
3,000  automobile  accidents  in  Chicago,  of  which  136  were  fatal;  but  do 
people  stop  to  think  that  there  were  also  more  than  3,000  cases  of  people 
falling  down  stairs  and  out  of  windows  in  the  same  period,  of  which  147 
were  fatal,  ninety-one  of  these  being  killed  from  falling  down  stairs  and 
fifty-six  from  falling  out  of  windows? 

It  is  currently  supposed  that  it  is  more  dangerous  to  go  out  on  the 
street,  for  fear  of  being  struck  by  automobiles,  than  it  is  to  stay  at  home 
and  run  the  risk  of  falling  out  of  windows  or  down  stairs;  but  our  records 
show  not  only  that  there  were  last  year  eleven  more  of  the  latter  cases 
than  of  the  former,  but  going  back  ten  years,  facts  and  figures  bear  out 
the  truth  that,  based  upon  average,  it  is  more  dangerous  to  stay  at  home 
in  Chicago  than  it  is  to  go  out  on  the  street. 

Error  in  Estimating — It  is  worth  while  analyzing  not  only  the  reasons 
why  people  are  generally  in  error  in  estimating  risks  and  dangers.  It  is 
interesting  to  investigate  the  peculiar  recurrence  of  the  same  number  of 
accidents  with  perfect  regularity  year  after  year.  For  instance,  the  total 
number  of  accidents  from  falling  in  all  ways,  such  as  off  of  wagons,  from 
porches,  down  ladders,  in  new  buildings,  down  elevator  shafts,  etc.,  is 
366  in  1913  and  362  in  1912,  an  almost  uniform  record  when  considering 
the  natural  increase  of  population.  Why  is  it,  then,  we  may  ask,  that 
this  identical  number  must  lose  their  lives  each  year  from  falling  in  various 
ways,  and  why  is  it  that  we  must  lose  136  lives  by  automobiles,  the  increase 
in  these  fatalities  being  in  almost  exact  proportion  to  the  increasing  number 
of  power  vehicles  used  on  the  streets? 

Automobile  is  New — In  the  first  place  the  automobile  is  a  compar¬ 
atively  new  thing  and  many  of  those  killed  in  this  way  being  prominent 
people  adds  a  spectacular  effect  that  brings  this  class  of  fatalities  more 
into  the  public  eye;  hence  many  persons  who  are  not  guided  by  statistics 
think  of  these  things  entirely  out  of  their  true  proportion.  Again,  by 
what  mysterious  law  of  selection  is  it  that  136  were  chosen  to  be  killed 
by  automobiles  last  year  and  147  by  falling  out  of  windows  and  down 
stairs?  When  we  come  to  consider  that  more  than  3,000  non-fatal  acci¬ 
dents  occurred  in  each  way,  and  that  some  30,000  accidents  of  all  kinds 
and  classes  occur  in  Chicago  each  year,  and  if  we  then  add  the  millions 
of  small  blunders  that  take  place  in  homes,  such  as  cutting  fingers,  break¬ 
ing  dishes,  stumbling  over  chairs,  etc.,  due  to  carelessness  and  heedless¬ 
ness,  a  proper  understanding  may  be  had,  not  only  of  the  widespread 
lack  of  foresight  and  a  tendency  to  commit  blunders  large  and  small,  but 
the  method  of  correcting  this  tendency  becomes  clear  and  self-evident, 
viz.,  our  educational  methods  from  infancy  upward  in  homes,  schools  and 
elsewhere  must  be  geared  to  train  mind  and  body  in  the  qualities  of  care¬ 
fulness,  thoughtfulness  and  precision. 

Many  Heedless  Blunders  —  A  thoughtless,  heedless  community 
will  naturally  commit  a  vast  number  of  blunders  more  or  less  serious, 
whereas  a  careful,  thoughtful,  properly  taught  community  will  commit 
a  minimum  of  blunders,  and  all  those  in  each  community  who  wish  to  know 
the  true  proportion  of  all  blunders,  accidents  and  fatalities  to  each  other, 
should  not  attempt  to  guess  at  such  figures  or  draw  conclusions  in  accord¬ 
ance  with  what  is  most  prominently  mentioned  in  public  print,  but  they 


34 


BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  SORRY 


should  aim  to  secure  accurate  details,  such  as  are  contained  in  the  tabu¬ 
lated  and  classified  records  in  my  Biennial  Report. 

Auto  Fatalities  Small  —  Far  from  automobiles  causing  the  largest 
number  of  fatalities,  our  records  show  that  for  every  five  million  miles 
traveled  by  the  37,000  power  vehicles  in  Chicago  during  the  last  four 
yeais,  there  were  but  twelve  and  a  fraction  accidents,  whereas  for  every 
five  million  miles  traveled  by  the  65,000  horse  vehicles  there  were  twenty- 
six  and  a  fraction  accidents.  While  it  is  necessary  that  our  forces  for  pub¬ 
lic  safety  should  continue  their  campaign  of  education  in  the  interest  of 
decreasing  these  records,  it  will  be  startling  to  many  who  have  not  had  the 
advantage  of  the  statistics  on  the  subject,  to  learn  the  above  facts  and 
realize  that  after  all,  automobile  fatalities  are  fewer  in  number  than  those 
that  occur  annually  from  falls  out  of  windows  and  down  stairs,  fatalities 
which  can  be  so  easily  decreased  or  prevented  if  care  and  precaution  are 
used. 


The  Cost  of  Recklessness  and  Heedlessness 

Is  it  possible  to  decrease  the  number  of  casualties  by  improved  ed¬ 
ucational  methods  in  the  home,  school,  church  and  through  the  press? 
Can  the  population  of  Cook  County  be  induced  to  use  more  care  and 
foresight  and  become  so  much  more  efficient  of  hand  and  brain  that  the 
costly  catastrophes  on  every  hand  may  be  decreased? 

According  to  the  records  of  the  various  departments  in  Chicago  and 
Cook  County  there  are  one  hundred  and  ten  thousand  arrests  per  year; 
thirty  thousand  accidents  to  life  and  limb,  twenty-one  thousand  premature 
or  postponable  deaths  from  all  causes,  ten  thousand  fires  and  confiagrations, 
five  thousand  Coroner’s  inquiries  into  sudden  and  violent  deaths,  the 
majority  of  these  being  the  result  of  carelessness,  thoughtlessness  and  a 
lack  of  foresight  on  the  part  of  all  alike,  young  and  old,  employers  and 
employes,  drivers  and  pedestrians. 

It  is  well  known  that  a  system  of  education  designed  to  impart  care¬ 
fulness,  precision  and  thoroughness  in  the  doing  of  things  will  not  alone 
decrease  the  one  class  of  casualties  with  which  the  Coroner’s  office  deals, 
but  will  decrease  all  the  rest  in  the  same  proportion. 

The  question  arises:  Is  it  possible  to  decrease  the  casualties  resulting 
from  thoughtlessness  and  heedlessness  that  furnish  the  material  for 
Coroner’s  inquests,  without  also  reducing  the  number  of  fires  and  all 
accidents,  great  and  small,  that  occur  with  daily  regularity  in  homes  and 
factories  and  on  the  streets  ? 

What  is  the  cost  of  all  this  recklessness,  heedlessness  and  lack  of 
thoroughness  in  our  midst?  It  is  conservatively  estimated  that  two- 
thirds  of  all  expenses  for  physicians,  drugs,  hospitals,  police,  courts,  jails, 
lawyers,  can  be  saved,  and  one  authority  tells  us  that  the  mere  addition 
of  one-third  more  to  the  cost  of  our  present  system  of  education,  with  cor¬ 
responding  co-operation  by  parents,  churches  and  the  press,  will  go  far 
toward  accomplishing  this  result. 

The  tremendous  cost  to  the  community  in  time,  money  and  suffering 
on  account  of  the  prevailing  carelessness  and  heedlessness  on  the  part  of 
both  old  and  young  is  too  great  to  be  estimated,  and  no  effort  should  be 
spared  or  time  lost  in  establishing  laboratories  of  experimental  psychology 
in  public  schools,  as  has  been  suggested,  to  work  out  a  plan  that  will  train 
both  hand  and  mind  into  the  habits  of  caution,  efficiency,  thoroughness 
and  the  foresight  required  to  live  safely  in  this  age  of  menacing  dangers 
on  every  hand. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


35 


Nine  Years  as  Coroner  of  Cook  County,  Illinois 

rw 

By  PETER  M.  HOFFMAN 

It  is  with  eminent  satisfaction  that  I  call  attention  to  the  scope  and 
the  detail  of  the  numerical  tables  herein,  especially  designed  as  a  salutary 
lesson  to  the  people  of  the  entire  country  as  a  record  of  how  to  avoid  acci¬ 
dental  and  violent  deaths  of  all  kinds  and  classes. 

In  order  to  present  a  comprehensive  idea  of  the  business  of  a  coroner’s 
office,  the  following  statement  of  the  number  of  inquests  held  during  the 
past  nine  years,  the  number  of  certificates  issued  without  inquests  after 
investigation  by  Coroner’s  physicians  and  the  total  number  of  Coroner’s 
cases  for  each  year  are  herewith  presented  for  comparison: 


1905 

Table 

1906  1907 

No.  I 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

Inquests . 

3,482 

3,962 

4,237 

4,214 

4,604 

4,895 

5,056 

4,226 

4,835 

Certificates . 

234 

276 

270 

253 

333 

514 

398 

1,048 

1,263 

Total  Coroner’s  cases. 

3,716 

4,238 

4,507 

4,467 

4,937 

5,409 

5,454 

5,274 

5,648 

It  will  be  observed  that  while  the  total  number  of  cases  per  annum 
has  been  on  a  gradual  increase,  only  twice,  in  1908  and  1912,  falling  below 
the  year  before,  the  number  of  inquests  for  1912  and  1913  shows  but  little 
increase  as  compared  with  1908,  this  being  entirely  accounted  for  by  the 
large  increase  in  the  number  of  death  certificates  issued  after  investiga¬ 
tion  by  Coroner’s  physicians,  this  class  of  cases  reaching  1,048  in  1912 
and  1,263  I9i3- 

It  has  been  my  object  during  the  past  two  years  to  facilitate  the  work 
of  this  office  and  to  decrease  the  expense  to  the  county  by  avoiding  the 
formality  of  inquests,  with  the  increased  expense  of  conducting  cases, 
paying  jurors,  etc.,  in  all  instances  where  investigations  by  our  physicians 
show  that  deaths  were  clearly  due  to  forms  of  disease  and  entirely  uncon¬ 
nected  with  circumstances  that  would  make  a  jury  inquest  necessary. 

While  the  numiber  of  certificates  issued  after  investigation  were  only 
253  in  1908  and  398  in  1911,  notwithstanding  the  large  increase  in  Cor¬ 
oner’s  cases  to  5,648  in  1913,  this  method  of  handling  has  enabled  the 
office  to  take  care  of  this  large  increase  of  business  without  any  correspond¬ 
ing  increase  in  the  number  of  deputies,  the  expense  of  employing  jurors, 
etc.,  amounting  approximately  to  $6.00  for  each  case — a  clear  saving  to 
the  county  of  more  than  $10,000.00  in  the  last  two  years. 

While  the  recommendations  of  Coroner’s  juries  and  the  more  recent 
campaign  for  Public  Safety  have  had  their  influence  in  keeping  the  Cor¬ 
oner’s  cases  even  at  their  present  figure,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  educa¬ 
tional  movement  now  being  conducted  by  the  Public  Safety  Commission 
of  Chicago  and  Cook  County  through  the  media  of  the  press,  the  schools 
and  churches,  will  show  a  marked  influence  toward  betterment. 

The  following  figures  for  1912  and  1913  will  be  of  especial  interest: 

Table  No.  2 


1912  1913 

Number  of  inquests  held .  4,220  4,385 

Certificates  issued  after  investigation .  1,048  1,263 

Post  mortems  held .  2,022  2,732 

Total  Coroner’s  cases .  5,274  5,648 

Witnesses  summoned  and  examined .  22,431  23,140 


36 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Table  No.  3 

Fees  Collected: 

For  serving  writs . 

For  inquest  fees . 

For  certified  copies . 

Miscellaneous . 


1912 
S  193.05 
738.00 
2,450.50 
53.85 


1913 
$  72.90 

780.00 
2,973.35 
67.10 


Total  fees  collected 


$3,435.40  $3,893.35 


Table  No.  4 


Held  to  Grand  Jury: 

Charge: 

Abortion . 10  7 

Accessory . 9 

Criminal  carelessness .  4 

Murder . .  132  135 


Total  number  held  to  Grand  Jury .  155  142 


The  number  of  persons  per  annum  held  to  the  Grand  Jury  by  the 
findings  of  Coroner’s  inquests,  is  variable  without  apparent  cause,  the 
highest  number,  242,  being  reached  in  1911,  the  number  155  in  1912 
showing  a  decrease  of  35.95  per  cent,  and  142  in  1913,  a  decrease  of 
41.32  per  cent. 

The  fact  that  the  office  of  Coroner  as  introduced  in  England  more 
than  three  hundred  years  ago  was  especially  to  determine  criminal  re¬ 
sponsibility  and  thus  mitigate  the  delay  and  complications  of  court  pro¬ 
cedure  as  affecting  innocent  persons,  would  seem  to  indicate  that  as  com¬ 
pared  with  the  total  Coroner’s  cases  per  annum,  the  percentage  that  are 
willful  and  malicious  is  exceedingly  low. 

It  is  evident,  especially  in  connection,  with  the  modern  Safety  Move¬ 
ment,  that  the  function  of  Coroner  has  greatly  broadened  in  character,  and 
while  inquests  will  continue  as  in  the  past  to  place  responsibility  for  all 
sudden  and  violent  deaths,  the  Coroner’s  greatest  service  to  humanity  will 
be  in  the  classification  and  tabulation  of  all  the  causes  of  death,  in  order 
that  through  this  recorded  experience  of  many  catastrophes  we  may  learn 
to  avoid  them. 

The  41,692  cases  that  have  been  handled  in  my  office  during  the  past 
nine  years  is  more  than  I  have  been  able  to  endure  without  protest,  for  I 
have  seen  so  much  sorrow  and  suffering  in  the  homes  of  Cook  County  dur¬ 
ing  this  period  that  it  has  become  the  crowning  ambition  of  my  life  to  help 
make  this  country  of  ours  a  saner  and  safer  place  to  live  in.  For  years  it 
has  been  my  aim  and  also  the  practice  of  my  subordinates  to  make  recom¬ 
mendations  as  a  result  of  what  is  learned  at  each  inquest,  to  obviate  as  far 
as  possible  the  cause  of  death  there  shown,  these  recommendations  sug¬ 
gesting  laws,  regulations  and  educational  methods  based  upon  experience. 
Our  records  show  that  this  part  of  our  system  has  been  the  means  of  saving 
many,  many  lives,  yet  there  is-still  a  constant  increase  of  coroner’s  cases, 
partially  due  to  the  increase  of  population  and  partly,  it  must  be  said,  to 
an  increase  in  carelessness,  heedlessness  and  a  lack  of  foresight,  permeating 
the  entire  community. 

Our  total  in  1913  reached  5,648  as  against  5,274  in  1912  and  4,467  in 
1908.  In  the  whole  United  States  during  1912  there  were  128,428  coroner’s 
cases,  50,000  more  than  were  lost  in  any  battle  in  the  world’s  history  dur¬ 
ing  the  past  five  hundred  years. 

If  we  do  not  begin  exercising  proper  care  and  precaution  and  cease 
placing  life  in  unnecessary  danger,  if  we  do  not  start  practicing  the  slogan 
of  the  Safety  First  movement — “Stop-Think-Look-Listen” — before  we 
act,  and  if  our  legislators  and  educators  fail  to  get  together  and  organize 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


37 


The  Overhanging  Platform  on  a  Curve 


38 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


changes  designed  to  reduce  the  figures  shown  in  the  following  table,  we 
will  be  forced  to  a  realization  of  this  dark  and  harrowing  forecast. 

Table  No.  5. 

Estimated  Casualties  for  1914,  Based  upon  a  Comparison  of  Cook  County 
with  the  Population  of  Continental  United  States. 

The  estimated  figures  employed  are  as  follows: 


Population  of  Cook  County  for  1913 .  2,622,100 

Population  of  United  States  for  1913 . 96,000,000 

Population  of  Cook  County  for  1914 .  2,676,137 

Ratio  of  Cook  County  to  population  of  United  States  as .  1  to  36.5 

Coroner’s  cases  in  Cook  County  for  1912 .  5,274 

Coroner’s  cases  in  Cook  County  for  1913 .  5,648 

Percentages  of  increase  of  1913  over  1912.  6,7  per  cent. 

Percentage  of  increase  of  1914  over  19 13,  6.7  per  cent. 


Based  upon  these  figures  and  our  experience  for  nine  years,  the  follow¬ 
ing  table  will  show  what  we  may  expect  in  the  way  of  sudden  and  violent 
deaths  in  Cook  County  and  in  the  whole  United  States  during  the  current 


year. 


Cook  Co. 

U.  S. 

Cook  Co. 

U.  S. 

Abortion: 

1913 

1913 

1914 

1914 

Accidental . . 

.  8 

292 

9 

328 

Criminal . 

.  12 

438 

13 

474 

Self-induced . 

.  33 

1,205 

35 

1,277 

Spontaneous . 

.  5 

183 

5 

183 

Undetermined . 

.  42 

1,533 

45 

1,643 

Automobile . 

.  136 

4,964 

145 

5,293 

Bicycle . 

. .  2 

37 

1 

36 

Motorcycle . 

.  14 

511 

15 

547 

Elevator . 

.  7 

256 

7 

256 

Elevated  railway . 

.  18 

657 

•19 

794 

Railroad . 

.  360 

13,140 

384  ' 

14,016 

Street  car . 

.  165 

6,023 

176 

6,424 

W  agon . . 

.  37 

1,351 

39 

1,424 

Industrial: 

Burned  by  metal . 

.  4 

146 

4 

146 

Scalded  by  hot  water . 

.  7 

256 

7 

256 

Killed  in  elevator . 

.  21 

767 

22 

803 

Caught  in  machinery . 

.  28 

1,022 

30 

1,095 

Building  collapse . 

.  2 

73 

2 

73 

Electrocution . 

.  15 

551 

16 

584 

Explosion . 

.  16 

584 

17 

620 

Struck  by  falling  object . 

.  _  49 

1,789 

52 

1,898 

Falling  dowm  elevator  shaft . 

.  12 

438 

13 

474 

Falling  off  wagon . 

.  36 

1,314 

38 

1,387 

Falling  down  ladder . 

.  10 

365 

11 

401 

Falling  scaffold . ! . 

.  25 

913 

26 

949 

Miscellaneous . 

.  13 

475 

14 

511 

Alcoholism . 

.  97 

3,541 

103 

3,760 

Asphyxiation,  accidental . 

.  148 

5,402 

158 

5,767 

Asphyxiation,  undetermined . 

.  64 

2,336 

68 

2,482 

Burns  and  scalds . 

.  232 

8,468 

248 

9,052 

Choking,  accidental . 

.  6 

219 

7 

255 

Choking,  undetermined . 

.  1  ' 

37 

1 

36 

Crushed  in  earth . 

.  1 

37 

1 

37 

Cutting,  accidental . 

.  1 

37 

1 

36 

Drowning,  accidental . 

.  84 

3,066 

90 

3,285 

Drowning,  undetermined . . 

.  63 

2,300 

66 

2,409 

Diving  on  rock  or  bottom . . 

.  3 

110 

3 

109 

Electrocution . . 

.  4 

146 

5 

182 

Electrocution,  trolley  wires . 

.  1 

37 

2 

73 

Electrocution,  light  wires . 

.  12 

438 

13 

474 

Exposure . 

.  6 

219 

7 

255 

Exposure  and  neglect . 

.  13 

475 

14 

511 

Falling  objects . 

.  5 

183 

6 

219 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


39 


Cook  Co.  U.  S. 

Cook  Co. 

u.  s. 

1913 

1913 

1914 

1914 

Falls: 

Out  of  chair . 

.  5 

183 

6 

219 

On  floor . 

.  26 

949 

28 

1,022 

Out  of  window . 

.  56 

2,044 

60 

2,190 

Off  ladder . 

.  18 

657 

19 

694 

Down  stairs . 

.  91 

3,322 

96 

3,504 

On  street . 

.  58 

2,117 

62 

2,263 

From  horse . 

.  2 

73 

2 

73 

Into  hold  of  boat . 

.  6 

219 

6 

219 

Miscellaneous . 

.  18 

657 

19 

694 

Heat  prostration . 

.  51 

1,862 

54 

1,971 

Homicide . 

.  233 

8,505 

249 

9,089 

Hydrophobia . 

.  2 

73 

3 

no 

Poisoning,  accidental . 

.  35 

1,278 

37 

1,350 

Poisoning,  undetermined . 

.  26 

949 

28 

1,022 

Ptomaine . 

.  3 

no 

3 

109 

Shooting,  accidental . 

.  15 

548 

16 

584 

Shooting,  undetermined . 

.  9 

329 

10 

365 

Suffocated  (children) . 

.  4 

146 

5 

183 

Suicide . 

.  572 

20,878 

610 

22,265 

Septicaemia . 

.  41 

1,498 

43 

1,569 

Struck  by  lightning . 

.  2 

73 

3 

no 

Tetanus . . 

.  47 

1,716 

51 

1,862 

Undetermined  violence . 

.  46 

1,679 

49 

1,789 

Under  anesthetic . 

.  18 

657 

19 

694 

Forms  of  disease . 

.  1,180 

43,070 

1,258 

45,917 

Suffocated  by  water  heaters . 

.  1 

37 

2 

73 

Miscellaneous . 

.  3 

no 

3 

no 

Physicians’  certificates . 

. 1,263 

46,099 

1,348 

49,202 

Total  Coroner’s  cases . 

. 5,648 

206,152 

6,027 

219,986 

Asphyxiation . 

SUICIDES 

.  163 

5,950 

173 

6,314 

Cutting . 

.  33 

1,204 

35 

1,278 

Drowning . 

.  22 

803 

24 

876 

Hanging . 

.  57 

2,080 

60 

2,190 

Jumping  from  vdndow . 

.  9 

328 

10 

365 

Jumping  from  building . 

.  2 

73 

2 

73 

Jumping  under  train . 

.  6 

219 

7 

256 

Poisoning . 

.  109 

3,979 

116 

4,234 

Setting  fire  to  clothes . 

.  7 

256 

8 

292 

Shooting . 

.  164 

5,986 

175 

6,387 

Total . 

.  572 

20,878 

610 

22,265 

Poison  Used: 

Carbolic  acid . 

.  60 

2,190 

64 

2,336 

Chloride  of  zinc . 

.  4 

146 

4 

146 

Chloroform . 

.  6 

219 

7 

255 

Corrosive  sublimate . 

.  2 

73 

.  2 

73 

Cyanide  of  potassium . 

.  7 

255 

7 

256 

Morphine . 

.  2 

73 

2 

73 

Muriatic  acid . 

.  2 

73 

2 

73 

Narcotic . 

.  5 

183  . 

6 

219 

Opium . . . 

.  1 

37 

2 

73 

Paris  green . 

.  3 

no 

3 

no 

Prussic  acid . 

.  1 

37 

1 

37 

Rough-on-rats . 

.  5 

182 

5 

182 

Strychnine . 

.  4 

146 

4 

146 

Not  ascertained . 

.  7 

255 

7 

255 

Total . 

.  109 

3,979 

116 

4,234 

Probable  Cause: 

Despondent . 

.  165 

6,022 

175 

6,388 

Insane . 

.  25 

912 

27 

985 

Temporarily  insane . 

.  195 

7,118 

208 

7,592 

Not  ascertained . 

.  187 

6,826 

200 

7,300 

Total . 

.  572 

20,876 

610 

22.266 

40 


BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  SORRY 


HOMICIDES 


Asphyxiation . 

Cook  Co. 
1913 

.  3 

U.  S. 
1913 
109 

Cook  Co. 
1914 

3 

U.  S. 
1914 

no 

Blow  on  head  or  body . 

.  42 

1,533 

44 

1,605 

Cutting . 

.  5 

182 

6 

220 

Drowning . 

. .  1 

37 

1 

37 

Explosion . 

.  11 

402 

12 

438 

Poison . 

.  3 

109 

3 

109 

Shooting . 

.  140 

5,110 

148 

5,402 

Stabbing . 

.  25 

913 

27 

985 

Strangulation . 

.  3 

110 

4 

146 

Thrown  out  of  window . 

•  •  •  • 

1 

37 

Total . 

.  233 

8,505 

249 

9,089 

Accidental . 

.  27 

986 

29 

1,059 

Justifiable . 

.  37 

1,350 

39 

1,424 

Murder . 

.  162 

5,913 

173 

6,314 

Murder  and  suicide . 

.  7 

256 

8 

292 

Total . 

.  233 

8,505 

249 

9,089 

Collision . 

RAILROADS. 

.  9 

328 

10 

365 

Crossing  tracks . 

.  74 

2,701 

79 

2,883 

Crushed . 

.  26 

949 

28 

1,022 

Falling  off  train . 

.  25 

913 

27 

986 

Jumping  on  or  off . 

.  17 

620 

18 

657 

Scalded  by  steam . . 

.  1 

36 

1 

37 

Struck  by  viaduct . 

.  2 

73 

2 

73 

Walking  on  track . 

.  149 

5,439 

158 

5,767 

Hitching . 

.  9 

329 

10 

365 

Leaning  out  of  car . 

.  2 

73 

2 

73 

Wreck . 

16 

584 

17 

620 

Not  ascertained . 

. :  30 

1,095 

32 

1,168 

Total . 

.  360 

13,140 

384 

14,016 

Passenger . 

.  9 

328 

10 

-  365 

Employe . 

.  132 

4,818 

141 

5,146 

Otherwise . 

.  219 

7,994 

233 

8,505 

Total . 

.  360 

13,140 

384 

14,016 

At  crossing . 

.  59 

2,153 

63 

2,300 

Not  at  crossing . 

.  301 

10,987 

321 

11,716 

Total . 

.  360 

13,140 

384 

14,016 

On  track  at  crossing . 

STREET  CARS. 

.  18 

657 

19 

693 

On  track  not  at  crossing .... 

.  23 

840 

24 

876 

Crushed  between  cars . 

.  9 

328 

10 

365 

Collision . 

.  9 

328 

10 

365 

Fall  from  car . 

.  12 

438 

13 

475 

Getting  on  or  off . 

.  3 

no 

4 

146 

Hitching . 

.  2 

73 

2 

73 

Vehicle  struck  by  car . 

.  16 

584 

17 

621 

W alking  on  track . 

.  7 

256 

8 

292 

Run  down  by  car . 

.  60 

2,190 

63 

2,299 

Not  ascertained . 

.  6 

219 

6 

219 

Total . 

.  165 

6,023 

176 

6,424 

Passenger . : .  . 

.  14 

511 

14 

511 

Employe . 

.  14 

511 

14 

511 

Otherwise . 

.  137 

5,001 

148 

5,402 

Total . 

.  165 

6,023 

176 

6,424 

At  crossing . 

.  66 

2,410 

69 

2,518 

Not  at  crossing . 

.  99 

3,613 

107 

3,906 

Total . 

.  165 

6,023 

176 

6,424 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


41 


ELEVATED  RAILWAY. 


Cook  Co.  U.  S. 

Cook  Co. 

U.  S. 

1913 

1913 

1914 

1914 

Electrocuted . 

.  1 

36 

1 

37 

Fell  off  platform .  .  .  . 

.  2 

73 

2 

73 

Crushed  . 

.  1 

37 

1 

37 

Run  down  by  train.  . 

.  10 

365 

11 

401 

Walking  on  track.  .  . 

.  4 

146 

4 

146 

Total . 

.  18 

657 

19 

694 

On  elevation . 

.  8 

292 

8 

292 

On  ground . 

.  10 

365 

11 

402 

Total . 

. : .  18 

657 

19 

694 

Employe . 

.  9 

328 

9 

329 

Otherwise . 

.  9 

329 

10 

365 

Total . 

. .  18 

657 

19 

694 

SUMMARY. 

Total  Coroner’s  cases  in  Cook  County  during  1913 . 

.  5,648 

Estimated  Coroner’s 

cases  in  Continental  United  States,  1913 

.206,152 

Estimated  Coroner’s 

cases  in  Cook  County  for  1914 . 

.  6,027 

Estimated  Coroner’s 

cases  in  Continental  United  States,  1914 

.219,986 

The  above  table  of  inexpressible  horror  should  remind  every  fair  thinking 
man,  woman  and  child  that  it  is  a  duty  which  they  owe  to  God  and  their  county, 
their  family  and  themselves,  to  conduct  a  campaign  of  education  and  publicity 
through  the  pulpit,  the  press,  the  school,  home  and  club,  to  make  this  a  safer 
and  a  saner  land  in  which  to  reside  and  rear  our  children. 

When  the  community  through  its  avenues  of  education  succeeds  in 
minimizing  its  coroner’s  cases,  it  means  a  proportionate  elimination  of 
immorality,  crime  and  bad  citizenship.  In  thousands  of  cases  where 
breadwinners  with  families  are  suddenly  cut  down  by  violent  deaths,  leav¬ 
ing  widows  and  children  without  means  of  support,  at  the  mercy  of  the 
streets  of  our  city,  these  children  become  brutalized,  stultified  and  molded 
into  the  material  that  fills  our  jails,  asylums  and  almshouses.  The  several 
groups  of  ruffians  and  youthful  bandits  that  have  from  time  to  time  com¬ 
mitted  atrocious  crimes  in  this  county  and  generally  paid  the  extreme 
penalty  for  their  acts,  were  the  offspring  of  our  city  streets,  the  products  of 
homes  unable  to  supply  proper  food,  care  and  education,  and  I  therefore 
insist  that  conducting  a  campaign  to  minimize  the  maiming  and  killing  of 
breadwinners  by  accident  is  a  part  of  the  larger  campaign  to  elevate  citi¬ 
zenship  and  the  prevailing  standards  of  morality.  The  entire  Public 
Safety  movement  as  it  is  being  conducted  in  Chicago  is  based  upon  the 
idea  of  “learning  from  experience’’;  not  especially  the  experiences  and 
misfortunes  connected  with  our  own  lives  or  those  of  our  neighbors,  ac¬ 
quaintances  and  friends,  but  the  tabulated  and  classified  experiences  ot 
past  years,  for  it  is  the  work  of  the  statistician  to  give  us  the  classified  ex¬ 
periences  of  thousands  and  millions  in  order  that  we  may  learn  thereby. 

The  great  progress  that  has  been  made  throughout  the  United  States 
and  the  civilized  world  by  the  Safety  First  Movement  and  numberless 
organized  efforts  to  safeguard  human  life  and  limb,  wherein  factories,  rail¬ 
roads,  trolley  systems,  etc.,  have  taken  part,  find  Cook  County  well  to  the 
fore  in  the  crusade  to  minimize  the  sorrows  and  sufferings  which  from  time 
immemorial  have  been  an  inseparable  part  of  the  duties  of  the  Coroner. 

While  this  office  has  the  daily  experiences  of  dealing  with  the  most 
heartrending  and  unexpected  forms  of  misery  that  beset  the  community, 
instead  of  hardening  our  hearts  and  dulling  our  faculties,  these  experiences 
have  on  the  contrary  aroused  the  highest  feelings  of  humanitarianism 


42 


BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  SORRY 


coupled  with  the  stubborn  determination  to  employ  the  lessons  of  this 
office  as  the  best  means  by  which  to  aid  our  fellow’-man  and  prevent  in  the 
future  a  recurrence  of  as  large  a  percentage  of  accidental  and  violent  deaths 
as  education  in  the  art  of  prevention  is  capable  of  doing. 

The  councils  of  the  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook 
County,  which  have  had  the  co-operation  of  a  number  of  experts  and 
interested  outsiders,  has  resulted  in  the  unanimous  conclusion  that  the 
death  roll  of  Cook  County  can  be  enormously  decreased  by  intensive 
methods  of  education  to  be  inaugurated  in  schools,  homes  and  factories,  by 
means  of  the  press,  among  employes  of  steam  and  electric  railway  com¬ 
panies  and  among  the  users  of  the  streets  in  cities  and  towns,  and  with  the 
idea  of  making  the  records  of  this  office  vitally  educational,  this  book  has 
been  so  compiled  as  to  even  make  it  suitable  for  a  Teachers’  Class  Book  of 
Public  Safety  in  our  schools,  as  well  as  a  text  book  for  the  heads  of  depart¬ 
ments  in  all  industrial  occupations. 

It  will  be  seen  in  the  perusal  of  these  pages  that  this  book  probably 
for  the  first  time  in  connection  with  the  records  of  any  city  or  county  in 
America,  presents  certain  sociological  truths  with  such  startling  clearness  as 
to  almost  enforce  a  new  understanding  of  things  and  a  new  viewpoint 
toward  life  and  nature,  so  regular  and  uniform,  year  after  year,  do  certain 
occurrences  and  fatalities  appear  again  and  again  in  the  same  ratios  and 
proportions. 

Every  age  in  the  world’s  history  has  been  attended  with  tremendous 
loss  of  human  life.  In  ancient  times  there  were  ravages  by  wild  beasts, 
floods,  famines,  pestilences  and  wars  which  in  many  instances  wiped  out 
whole  tribes  and  nations.  Brownings  by  sea  and  dangers  on  land  have 
decimated  our  race  by  violent  and  untimely  deaths  since  time  immemorial. 

While  human  ingenuity  has  conquered  the  dangers  which  beset  man 
in  his  primitive  state,  it  is  seen  that  the  very  machines,  inventions  and 
devices  which  now  so  largely  safeguard  humanity  from  the  old  dangers, 
have  under  the  modern  regime  brought  us  face  to  face  with  new  dangers 
that  are  fully  as  destructive.  The  modern  age  of  machinery  in  use  on  land 
and  sea  is  scarcely  a  century  old,  and  it  must  be  remembered  that  a  hundred 
years  is  but  a  short  time  in  the  history  of  a  nation.  We  can  lay  it  to  our 
youthfulness,  to  our  infancy  as  a  people,  that  we  are  as  yet  unprepared 
for  the  dangers  of  modern  industrial  life  and  that  no  great  movement  has 
heretofore  b^een  worked  out  lo  place  this  new  education  before  the  minds 
of  all  humanity,  embodying  a  widespread  education  as  to  the  need  of  safe-  ' 
guarding  life  and  limb  in  the  interest  of  all. 

It  is  doubtful  if  even  in  the  early  history  of  our  race  the  ravages  of 
famines,  wild  beasts  and  marauding  tribes  ever  killed  and  wounded  so  large 
a  percentage  of  the  population  as  results  through  our  present  industrial 
and  transportation  accidents  and  violent  deaths,  more  than  fifty  per  cent 
of  which  can  be  made  avoidable  by  proper  training,  general  safeguarding 
and  a  higher  mental,  physical  and  social  efficiency — 35,000  killed  and 
2,000,000  injured  annually  by  industrial  accidents  alone  in  the  United 
States  is  a  disgrace  to  reason  and  a  challenge  to  common  sense. 

The  new  spirit  of  the  times  is  the  Spirit  of  Conservation,  which  means 
that  a  new  value  is  being  placed  on  human  life;  that  we  are  coming  to  rec¬ 
ognize  human  beings  as  the  greatest  of  all  our  assets,  and  that  the  highest 
duty  of  society  and  government  is  to  conserve  the  life  and  limb  of  its  citi¬ 
zens.  We  are  the  builders  of  a  new  nation,  the  creators  of  a  new  civiliza¬ 
tion.  The  eastern  and  the  western  oceans  have  been  connected  by  bands 
of  steel.  Iron  horses  traverse  the  thousands  of  miles  of  arid  districts, 
climb  the  mountain  ranges,  in  which  deep  shafts  are  sunk  thousands  of 


I 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN!  43 


Bicycle  Rider  Struck  by  Speeding  Automobile 


44 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


feet  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  from  which  are  borne  away  the  mineral 
treasures  with  which  to  enrich  mankind.  In  the  mad  struggle  for  wealth, 
for  social,  artistic,  economic  and  political  success,  man  himself  has  been 
forgotten.  The  great  conservation  movement  commenced  purely  with 
the  idea  of  safeguarding  natural  resources  in  the  interest  of  the  people  and 
all  posterity,  and  not  until  the  conservation  principle  had  saturated  itself 
into  thinking  minds,  not  until  the  human  being  and  the  human  child  were 
recognized  as  the  greatest  and  most  valuable  of  all  our  resources,  did  the 
Child  Welfare  Movement  and  the  Safety  First  Movement  grip  the  minds 
of  the  people  in  a  vise  of  steel. 

From  this  awful  death  roll  one  would  think  this  nation  was  enduring 
the  carnage  of  war,  but  it  should  be  understood  that  neither  this  country 
nor  any  other  nation  in  history  has  ever  lest  in  any  period  of  war  one-half 
as  many  killed  and  wounded  per  annum  as  our  present  loss  from  accidents 
in  time  of  peace,  and  this  does  not  include  the  deaths  of  the  millions  who 
die  prematurely  as  a  result  of  taking  improper  care  of  themselves.  Every 
sixteen  minutes  a  workman  is  killed  and  every  sixteen  seconds  one  is  in¬ 
jured  in  factory  or  on  railroads  in  some  part  of  the  United  States. 

The  increase  of  automobile  accidents  in  Chicago  and  other  large  cities 
is  what  has  aroused  the  Safety  Movement  into  being,  but  while  this  class 
of  accidents  is  spectacular,  frequently  killing  people  of  prominence,  the 
number  of  automobile  fatalities  is  but  little  more  than  the  deaths  which 
for  years  have  been  caused  by  horse  vehicles,  less  than  half  the  number 
killed  by  street  cars,  one-fourth  the  steam  railway  fatalities,  one-sixth  the 
number  of  suicides  and  one  fifty-fourth  of  the  premature  deaths  from  all 
causes  in  Cook  County  in  1912.  A  careful  examination  into  the  accidents 
and  deaths  of  all  classes  in  Chicago  and  Cook  County  for  the  past  five 
years  indicates  that  two-thirds  of  the  violent  deaths  are  a  result  of  bad 
physical  condition  and  low  mental  efficiency  on  the  part  of  pedestrians,  as 
well  as  drivers  of  cars,  vehicles,  etc.,  proving  that  our  race  is  still  operating 
on  a  plane  of  low  mental  efficiency,  which  can  only  be  improved  by 
education. 

It  is  plainly  evident  that  the  fundamental  causes  of  premature  and 
violent  deaths  and  accidents  lie  deep  in  the  fabric  of  our  civilization  and 
that  effective  movements  toward  prevention  must  be  in  the  line  of  educa¬ 
tion,  which  in  some  fields  may  even  necessitate  political  and  eonomic  re¬ 
organization. 

A  close  inquiry  into  the  figures  and  character  of  accidents  recorded 
by  the  authorities  of  both  Chicago  and  Cook  County  for  the  past  ten  years 
indicates  most  conclusively  a  general  lack  of  thoughtfulness,  carefulness 
and  thoroughness  on  the  part  of  old  and  young  in  every  walk  of  life, 
defects  which  can  only  be  reached  by  a  more  complete  and  effective 
method  of  education  in  homes  and  schools;  and  fortunately  we  have  more 
than  five  hundred  thousand  children  attending  schools  in  Cook  County 
to  commence  on  in  order  to  improve  conditions  in  the  next  generation. 
The  number  of  accidents  and  fatalities  which  occur  in  the  homes  of  Chicago, 
entirely  separated  from  the  dangers  of  the  streets,  railroads  and  factories,  is 
something  appalling.  For  example,  in  1912  twenty-seven  deaths  occurred 
from  suffocation  and  smothering,  mostly  infants  in  beds  and  cribs.  Ninety- 
two  were  killed  falling  down  stairs,  no  accidental  asphyxiations,  187  from 
burns  and  scalds,  and  194  by  falling  from  windows,  ladders,  porches,  etc. 
What  cure  can  be  suggested  for  the  avoidance  of  such  accidents  except  it 
be  a  general  system  of  thoroughness  in  education  that  will  effectually  im¬ 
prove  mental  and  physical  efficiency,  which  of  course  includes  proper  care 
and  respect  for  the  human  body. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


45 


wwpwmM 


Many  Children  are  Scalded  to  Death  Because  Kettles  and  Pans  Containing  Hot  Water  are  Left  Where  the  Little  Ones 

Can  Reach  Them. 


46 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  vSORRY 


Our  records  of  violent  deaths  are  now  so  well  kept  and  society  conforms 
so  closely  to  the  natural  law  of  momentum  year  after  year  and  century 
after  century  that  we  can  tell  in  advance  as  long  as  present  conditions 
continue,  about Eow  many  persons  will  commit  suicide  next  year  and  each 
year  to  come,  and  even  how  many  will  adopt  each  one  of  the  principal 
methods  of  self-destruction.  The  actuaries  of  life  insurance  companies 
have  founded  what  they  call  the  ‘'American  Tables”  upon  the  same  laws 
of  probability  employed  in  the  above  statement,  and  it  is  interesting  to 
note  that  while  some  of  the  large  companies  employ  the  American  Tables  to 
figure  the  cost  of  normal  risks  and  that  they  have  formulated  new  tables 
which  demand  a  higher  premium  for  subnormal  risks,  no  company  in 
America  has  as  yet  prepared  itself  with  tables  requiring  a  minimum  cost 
for  supernormal  risks. 

To  quote  Mr.  George  H.  Whittle,  first  President  of  the  Public  Safety 
Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County,  ‘‘Our  public  and  private  schools 
with  more  than  a  half  million  pupils,  must  be  made  the  vehicles  for  in¬ 
structing  young  and  old  in  the  gospel  of  ‘Safety  First,’  ‘Safety  Always,’ 
and  the  conservation  of  human  life  and  limb  at  every  point  from  which 
the  subject  may  be  attacked,  every  child  to  become  a  teacher  and  a 
crusader.” 

When  children  are  let  loose  from  school  the  natural  exuberance  with 
which  they  grab  their  hats  and  rush  to  the  streets  homeward  bound  should 
not  be  quenched;  but  the  number  of  accidents  from  trolley  cars,  automo¬ 
biles  and  vehicles  directly  in  front  of  school  houses  makes  it  imperative 
that  all  school  houses  should  face  upon  the  less  frequented  side  streets, 
never  upon  a  street  car  line  or  upon  streets  that  are  made  regular  highways 
for  vehicles.  As  far  as  possible,  schools  facing  street  car  lines  should  be 
moved  or  abandoned,  future  school  houses  should  be  build  in  large  squares 
or  parks  with  sufficient  space  between  the  front  door  and  the  exit,  from  the 
grounds  to  reduce  somewhat  the  speed  and  exuberance  of  youthful  sprinters 
in  their  break  for  home.  The  fact  that  two-thirds  of  the  accidents  to  chil¬ 
dren  occur  in  the  middle  of  blocks  instead  of  at  the  crossings  where  drivers 
of  vehicles  and  cars  are  naturally  alert  for  dangers,  gives  a  line  on  the  kind 
of  instruction  which  teachers  of  public  safety  should  follow.  The  rule  not 
to  run  quickly  across  the  street,  to  stop  and  look  both  ways,  not  to  get  on 
or  off  a  car  while  it  is  in  motion,  to  face  forward  always,  to  never  run  across 
in  front  of  a  car,  to  never  ‘‘hitch”  on  cars,  automobiles  or  trucks,  or  jump 
off-  in  front  of  other  vehicles,  and  to  never  make  impulsive  movements  to 
confuse  drivers  of  vehicles,  are  all  excellent  instructions  in  their  way,  but 
it  is  for  the  authorities  to  so  arrange  public  affairs  and  to  so  conduct  private 
corporations  as  to  interfere  as  little  as  possible  with  the  spontaneity  and 
initiative  of  both  children  and  adults. 

In  1912  there  were  in  Chicago  1,491  run  over  or  struck  bystreet  cars, 
of  which  142  were  fatal;  i,  153  accidents  getting  on  or  off  street  cars,  of  which 
8  were  fatal;  698  accidents  were  due  to  cars  striking  wagons,  causing  14 
deaths;  395  persons  fell  or  were  thrown  from  cars,  of  which  16. were  killed; 
145  accidents  from  colliding  with  other  cars,  of  which  14  w^ere  fatal;  23 
persons  were  caught  between  cars,  10  of  them  being  killed. 

To  recite  two  not  very  usual  accidents:  a  motorman  was  recently 
killed  by  being  jammed  between  two  cars  standing  ready  to  be  switched 
into  the  barn  on  their  final  trip  at  ii  :oo  P.  M.  In  the  dark  the  motorman 
from  the  window  of  his  cab  had  failed  to  place  the  trolley  wheel  upon  the 
wire.  He  moved  his  lever,  but  the  car  did  not  start.  He  went  out  between 
the  cars,  grasped  the  rope  and  set  it  quickly  upon  the  live  wire.  The 
starting  lever  not  having  been  returned  to  neutral,  permitted  the  car  to 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


47 


i 


Natural  Exuberance — Just  Loose  from  School 


48 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


bound  forward  so  forcibly  that  the  young  man  with  a  dependent  family 
was  actually  crushed  to  death  within  reach  of  the  hand  of  the  driver  of  the 
next  car. 

The  other  case  was  of  three  workmen  who  were  returning  home  at 
7:00  P.  M.,  on  Western  avenue  in  a  suburb,  two  walking  ahead,  the  other 
in  the  rear.  A  small  sized  automobile,  with  the  two  side  lights,  approached 
from  the  opposite  direction,  the  driver  taking  his  wife  and  three  children 
for  an  evening  ride.  The  vehicle  was  seen  by  the  two  men  in  front, 
who  kept  their  course,  there  being  plenty  of  room  to  pass,  and  though  it 
was  going  at  low  speed,  just  as  it  approached  the  men  the  one  in  the  rear 
quickly  stepped  to  the  middle  of  the  road,  was  struck  and  although  the 
car  stopped  in  one-half  its  own  length,  the  man  was  injured  so  severely  that 
he  died  in  the  ambulance  on  the  way  to  the  hospital. 

These  unforeseen  and  unexpected  accidents  are  constantly  occurring 
and  must  be  carefully  considered  by  all  those  interested  in  human  welfare 
and  in  the  saving  of  life.  In  past  years  it  may  have  been  sufficient  for 
teachers  and  publicists  to  dismiss  such  cases  as  unavoidable  and  irreme¬ 
diable,  but  the  time  has  changed.  It  is  clear  that  a  lack  of  physical  and 
mental  alertness  on  the  part  of  all  concerned  is  evident  in  the  two  above 
accidents,  as  well  as  in  thousands  of  others. 

As  to  the  righteousness  of  the  impulse  to  save  human  life,  the  following 
figures  should  be  conclusive.  During  1912  the  number  of  violent  deaths 
demanding  Coroner’s  inquests,  listed  according  to  age,  were  as  follows: 

Babies  under  five  years  of  age,  236;  between  five  and  ten  years,  128; 
between  ten  and  twenty,  257;  between  twenty  and  thirty,  747;  between 
thirty  and  forty,  838;  betw^een  forty  and  fifty,  744;  between  fifty  and  sixty, 
661;  between  sixty  and  seventy,  360;  between  seventy  and  eighty,  123; 
over  eighty,  45;  age  not  ascertained,  87. 

To  conserve  the  needs  and  rights  of  traffic  as  w^ell  as  of  pedestrians, 
sub-sidewalks  at  the  minimum  distance  under  the  street  should  be  placed 
at  the  busiest  crossings  in  the  downtown  district.  To  keep  the  streets 
as  clear  as  possible  of  standing  vehicles  and  thereby  minimize  the  dangers 
in  the  loop,  it  has  been  suggested  that  new^  office  buildings  be  constructed 
with  basement  and  sub-basement  garages,  for  the  use  of  'which  a  rental 
charge  could  be  made  to  such  occupants  of  the  building  as  go  to  and  from 
their  offices  in  their  own  cars. 

The  greatest  obstacle  with  which  the  Coroner’s  office,  and  in  fact  every 
department  of  the  city  and  county,  is  obliged  to  contend  in  gathering 
figures  and  formulating  comparative  tables  that  will  be  of  the  highest 
value  to  the  public  at  large,  is  the  lack  of  an  organized  system  of  statistics 
in  connection  with  the  city,  county  and  state.  If  the  State  of  Illinois  had 
a  comprehensive  department  of  statistics,  systematically  organized  so  that 
each  city  would  report  to  the  statistical  bureau  in  the  county  in  which  it  is 
located,  each  county  to  report  within  a  specified  time  at  the  end  of  each 
year  to  the  department  at  Springfield,  all  outlying  towns  in  each  county 
to  be  organized  so  as  to  accurately  gather  the  records  of  births,  marriages, 
deaths,  accidents,  etc.,  properly  classified  as  to  fatalities  and  violence,  it 
would  be  a  far  simpler  matter  for  our  statisticians  to  gather  their  data, 
and  once  the  tables  and  forms  of  reports  were  standardized  by  the  state, 
the  same  blanks  to  be  used  in  each  county  and  city,  the  annual  reports  of 
each  department  and  bureau  could  be  compiled  with  an  ease  and  com¬ 
prehensiveness  and  a  reliability  far  exceeding  what  can  be  done  under  the 
present  disorganized  conditions. 

It  is  a  matter  of  so  great  importance  that  the  Coroner’s  office  should 
have  the  benefit  of  some  such  standardized  and  comprehensive  statistical 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


49 


system  as  above  outlined  that  I  have  caused  a  state  law  to  be  drafted  with 
the  view  to  securing  the  much  needed  facilities  of  such  a  department,  not 
only  for  the  county  of  Cook  but  for  every  other  county  and  municipality 
in  the  state;  for  while  this  report  contains  many  facts  and  tables  which  are 
bound  to  have  the  widest  influence  towards  ameliorating  present  conditions, 
I  am  free  to  state  that  with  a  more  complete  system  of  gathering  and 
formulating  statistics  in  this  county  and  throughout  the  state,  the  value 
of  our  annual  reports  can  be  increased  many  fold;  for  after  all,  we  learn 
only  by  experience  in  this  world,  and  as  statistics  are  in  reality  the  formu¬ 
lated  experience  of  thousands,  not  only  of  those  who  live  now  but  of  those 
who  have  died  for  us  in  the  past,  it  is  of  exceeding  importance  that  all 
records  throughout  cities  and  states  should  be  properly  kept  and  system¬ 
atically  classified. 

As  the  greatest  obstacle  that  has  confronted  my  office  in  formulating 
comparative  tables  has  been  the  lack  of  an  organized  department  of  sta¬ 
tistics  in  this  city,  county  and  state,  I  take  the  liberty  of  suggesting  the 
following  draft  of  a  law,  which  if  passed  would  decrease  our  difficulties 
and  multiply  our  efficiency  many  fold: 

“A  Law,  to  provide  for  gathering  records  and  making  systematic 
classifications  of  births,  marriages,  deaths,  accidents,  arrests,  fires,  and  all 
other  casualties,  together  with  reports  of  all  cases  of  lunacy  and  imbe¬ 
cility  in  each  city  and  county  in  the  state  of  Illinois;  to  enforce  penalties 
for  non-performance  against  those  whose  duty  it  is  to  gather  the  reports 
and  see  that  they  are  properly  recorded  and  classified;  to  establish  bureaus 
of  statistics  in  each  county  seat  to  receive  the  reports  of  all  cities  and  towns 
in  the  county  and  forward  same  annually;  the  State  Department  to  pro¬ 
vide  ways  and  means  for  the  support  of  the  statistical  department  of  the 
state  and  its  city  and  county  bureaus;  to  appoint  a  State  Board  of  Sta¬ 
tistics  and  provide  for  a  standardized  system  for  gathering  and  formulating 
all  records;  to  provide  for  the  publication  of  annual  reports  by  each  city 
and  county,  and  a  general  report  by  the  State  Department,  etc. 

“Whereas,  The  gathering  of  reports  of  all  matters  relating  to  man’s 
welfare  and  formulating  same  into  statistical  tables  may  be  called  the 
bookkeeping  of  human  society,  and  ’  * 

“Whereas,  It  is  just  as  impossible  to  properly  conduct  human  affairs 
without  bookkeeping  as  it  is  to  conduct  the  business  of  commonwealths 
and  corporations  without  records,  and 

“Whereas,  The  human  race  has  learned  everything  it  knows  by  ex¬ 
perience,  and  statistics  is  merely  the  classified  experience  of  the  past,  and 

“Whereas,  The  casualties  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County  for  1913 
in  their  order  were  110,000  arrests,  30,000  accidents  and  fatalities,  23,400 
premature  and  postponable  deaths  for  all  causes,  10,000  fires,  largely  the 
result  of  carelessness  and  heedlessness,  and  5,648  Coroner’s  cases,  all  the 
above  being  susceptible  to  decrease  by  training  in  thoughtfulness,  thorough¬ 
ness  and  foresight  in  schools  and  homes,  and 

“Whereas,  There  will  be  no  way  of  drawing  accurate  and  reliable 
conclusions  on  which  to  found  effective  systems  to  lessen  these  casualties 
until  a  state  law  is  passed  establishing  a  comprehensive  statistical  de¬ 
partment  with  bureaus  in  every  city  and  county,  therefore  be  it 

“Resolved:  i.  That  a  law  be  enacted  by  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  of  Illinois  establishing  a  Department  of  Statistics  in  each  county 
and  city,  the  county  bureau  to  gather  the  records  from  the  towns  and 
cities  within  its  border,  of  all  births,  marriages,  deaths,  accidents,  arrests. 


50 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


fires  and  catastrophes,  including  reports  of  all  cases  of  lunacy  and  imbe¬ 
cility,  these  to  be  on  blank  forms  supplied  by  the  State  Department  at 
Springfield,  from  which  the  county  and  city  bureaus  shall  derive  their 
authority; 

“2.  This  law  shall  provide  that  all  incorporated  cities  in  the  state 
shall  follow  the  methods  of  gathering  and  preparing  records,  including 
the  forms  to  be  employed  that  are  prescribed  by  the  State  Department; 
that  each  city  shall  make  its  report  to  the  county  bureau  of  the  county 
in  which  it  is  located,  the  county  to  report  annually  to  the  State  Depart¬ 
ment  at  Springfield; 

“3.  The  maintenance  of  the  State  Department  of  Statistics,  together 
with  its  city  and  county  bureaus,  to  be  provided  for  in  the  same  way  as 
other  state  departments.” 

A  bill  to  establish  such  a  department  in  this  state  should  be  drafted 
'  to  secure  the  rigorous  observance  of  its  requirements  by  all  those  who  are 
officially  or  semi-officially  responsible  for  gathering  and  formulating  these 
reports  in  the  townships  and  those  portions  of  counties  lying  outside  of 
incorporated  cities,  in  order  that  the  State  Department  may  be  assured 
that  its  annual  report  will  be  based  upon  strictly  accurate  returns  made 
by  the  duly  authorized  officials  of  each  county,  these  officials  to  have 
police  power  to  enable  them  to  enforce  the  regulations  provided  in  this 
bill,  and  see  to  it  that  the  police  whose  duty  it  is  to  report  arrests  and 
accidents,  the  physicians  who  sign  certificates  of  births,  deaths,  insanity, 
imbecility,  etc.,  and  the  deputies  and  others  who  report  Coroner’s  cases, 
the  officials  who  report  fires,  conflagrations,  etc.,  as  well  as  the  county 
clerks  who  record  marriages,  shall  attend  to  their  duties  in  the  form  and 
manner  prescribed. 

Another  needed  law  of  great  importance  which  experience  proves 
would  save  many  lives  that  are  now  sacrificed,  relates  to  the  shape  and 
form  of  bottles  that  are  to  be  made  receptacles  or  containers  of  poisons. 
A  law  making  it  obligatory  for  manufacturers,  dealers,  chemists,  physi¬ 
cians,  clerks,  nurses,  and  every  individual  handling  poisons  to  use  only 
serrated  or  “porcupine”  bottles,  that  may  be  distinguished  in  the  dark 
as  well  as  in  the  light,  is  absolutely  necessary  as  a  safeguard  against  acci¬ 
dental  poisoning.  I  also  recommend  a  law  prescribing  certain  colors  and 
irregular  shapes  for  tablets  containing  poisons,  so  as  to  distinguish  them, 
even  in  the  dark,  from  non-poisonous  tablets.  By  this  means  a  large  number 
of  accidental  poisonings  from  strychnine  and  bichloride  of  mercury  tablets 
could  be  almost  entirely  averted. 

While  asking  for  new  laws  and  regulations  that  will  assist  in  safeguard¬ 
ing  human  kind  from  accidental  deaths,  it  is  well  for  us  to  acknowledge 
that  not  all  laws  regulate,  that  frequently  education  plays  a  more  im¬ 
portant  part  than  legal  enactments.  For  example,  a  law  was  passed  pro¬ 
hibiting  the  sale  of  carbolic  acid  in  a  stronger  than  33  1-3  per  cent  solution, 
with  the  idea  that  this  would  decrease  suicide;  but  our  records 'show  that 
not  only  were  suicides  not  decreased,  but  on  the  contrary  carbolic  acid 
poisoning  has  become  the  most  popular  form  of  suicide,  leading  all  other 
poisons  in  a  ratio  of  more  than  four  to  one. 

In  New  York  a  campaign  has  been  waged  against  the  carrying  and 
sale  of  firearms,  and  official  reports  go  to  show  that  the  state  laws  and  city 
ordinances  in  relation  to  firearms  have  positively  reduced  accidental  shoot¬ 
ings,  suicides  and  homicides  by  a  considerable  percentage,  the  reasons 
given  for  the  decrease  being  that  these  shootings  are  the  result  of  impulse 
in  many  instances,  and  would  not  occur  except  for  the  suggestion  of  being 
in  possession  of  a  loaded  pistol. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


51 


CORONER^S  PHYSICIANS, 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  physicians  of  the  Coroner’s  office  to  certify  to 
the  causes  of  death,  examine  into  the  history  of  all  cases,  make  autopsies 
when  necessary  and  furnish  such  evidence  as  to  time,  place  and  the  con¬ 
tributing  causes  of  death,  as  may  be  needful  to  secure  just  verdicts. 

In  all  cases, of  death  in  hospitals  or  otherwise  in  which  no  physician 
has  been  in  attendance  for  more  than  twenty-four  hours,  some  member 
of  the  medical  staff  of  my  office  is  expected  to  make  an  examination  and 
report  the  cause  of  death,  and  the  same  services  are  rendered  when  violence 
is  given  as  the  contributing  cause. 

In  cases  of  uncertain  homicide  and  suicide,  or  where  the  Health 
Department  is  in  doubt,  or  where  accident  insurance  is  involved,  or  life 
insurance  under  the  workman’s  compensation  act  is  in  question,  one  of 
the  medical  staff  of  the  Coroner’s  office  must  be  called  upon. 

Among  the  many  autopsies  made  are  those  of  unknown  bodies  found 
in  the  lake,  river,  drainage  canal,  in  sloughs,  woods,  vacant  buildings, 
barns,  lodging  houses,  hotels,  public  buildings,  in  hospitals,  on  the  streets 
and  in  alleys. 

In  cases  of  new  born  infants  or  very  young  children  the  Coroner’s 
physician  must  determine  whether  death  was  from  natural  causes,  from 
willful  neglect  or  by  the  hand  of  parents  or  confederates,  or  whether  in 
case  of  drowning  there  are  evidences  of  bruises  or  maltreatment. 

Among  the  various  forms  of  death  requiring  investigation  or  post 
mortem  examinations  and  the  services  of  medical  men,  especially  in  cases 
where  witnesses  were  not  present,  are  shooting,  drowning,  stabbing,  cutting 
throats,  drinking  poison,  inhaling  gas,  strangulation,  etc.,  all  of  which 
must  be  differentiated  as  suicide,  homicide  or  accidental,  to-wit: 

Shooting — Cases  of  self-inflicted  wounds  where  more  than  one  shot 
is  fired  in  head  or  breast. 

Stabbing — Incised  wounds,  throat,  wrists,  or  ankle  cuts  or  numerous 
stabs  in  the  chest  with  knife,  razor  or  other  instruments. 

Drowning — The  depth  of  water,  conditions  and  circumstances — the 
absence  of  the  water  in  lungs  is  not  conclusive.  Drowning  may  occur 
as  the  result  of  acute  gastritis,  heart  disease,  status  lymphaticus,  par¬ 
alysis,  cramps,  etc. 

Poison — Carbolic  acid,  bichloride  of  mercury,  cyanide  of  potassium, 
morphine,  opium,  hydrochloride  acid,  arsenic,  rat  and  roach  powders, 
strychnine  and  coal  tar  products  in  headache  powders.  In  many  such 
cases  suicide  or  homicide  must  be  determined  by  circumstances. 

Asphyxiation — Illuminating  gas,  carbon  monoxide  from  instantaneous 
heaters,  gas  stoves  and  plates,  or  strangulation  by  hanging  and  under 
varied  circumstances  which  require  it  to  be  determined  whether  by  self 
or  others. 

Liability  Cases — Was  body  dead  before  injuries  were  inflicted — exam¬ 
ination  necessary  to  determine  if  position  of  body  was  such  as  to  appear 
to  have  been  mangled  after  life  was  extinct. 

Electrocution — Necessity  of  evidence  to  show  actual  contact  or  burns 
from  wires. 

Delirium  Tremens — Frequently  complicated  by  fractures  from  fall¬ 
ing  or  other  injuries  which  actually  caused  death,  not  strictly  the  result 
of  alcoholism  itself. 

Tetanus — Frequently  complicated  with  wounds  received  becoming 
filled  with  street  dirt,  etc. 


52 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Among  the  modes  of  death  where  the  presence  of  witnesses  is  of  no 
value,  but  in  which  autopsies  supply  positive  evidence  are  the  following: 
Pneumonia,  Pulmonary  Tuberculosis,  Septicaemia,  Nephritis,  Cancer, 
Internal  Flemorrhage  from  rupture,  ulceration  of  stomach  or 
intestines.  Apoplexy,  Pregnancy,  Intestinal  Obstruction,  Volvulus,  Peri¬ 
tonitis,  Appendicitis,  Cirrhosis  of  the  Liver,  Alcoholism  and  various  chronic 
disorders. 

There  are  a  number  of  matters  regarding  the  physicians  who  investi¬ 
gate  the  deaths  reported  to  the  Coroner’s  office  and  make  post  mortem 
examinations,  when  necessary,  that  deserve  brief  mention. 

The  Small  Salaries — It  is  impossible  to  procure  for  the  small  salaries 
allowed  men  competent  to  make  post  mortem  examinations  who  will 
devote  all  of  their  time  to  such  work.  Two  of  the  four  physicians  have 
teaching  positions  in  medical  schools  in  branches  which  increase  their 
efficiency  for  the  work.  They  are  well  known  pathologists;  the  other  two 
devote  some  time  to  the  practice  of  medicine. 

Territory  Apportionment — One  of  the  physicians  is  stationed  at  the 
Cook  County  Morgue  and  attends  to  all  of  the  work  there.  With  the  three 
remaining  the  effort  is  made  to  restrict  their  work  to  certain  regions;  one 
to  the  north  and  northwest,  one  to  the  west  district,  and  the  fourth  to  the 
south  part  of  the  city  and  county.  The  large  size  of  the  county  of  Cook 
makes  it  necessary  to  frequently  rearrange  the  work  for  a  day  because 
some  one  of  the  four  is  dispatched  to  some  remote  part  of  the  county, 
such  as  Lemont  or  Chicago  Heights.  The  lack  of  provision  for  the  employ¬ 
ment  of  additional  help  for  emergencies  seriously  interferes  with  the  work 
of  my  office.  If  one  of  the  physicians  becomes  ill  for  any  length  of  time 
during  seasons  of  the  year  when  the  number  of  deaths  requiring  investi¬ 
gations  are  numerous,  it  is  impossible  to  keep  up  with  the  work. 

Inadequate  Surroundings  for  Post-Mortem  Examinations — The 

disadvantages  under  which  many  of  the  post-mortem  examinations  are 
made,  the  cold  rooms,  the  lack  of  running  water  and  of  good  light  are  not 
conductive  to  the  best  results.  There  is  urgent  need  of  a  number  of  places 
suitably  scattered  about  the  county  of  Cook  where  the  proper  facilities 
and  privacy  may  be  had  for  such  examinations.  These  could  be  arranged 
for  very  well  in  connection,  with  a  number  of  precinct  police  stations,  the 
police  of  certain  precincts  to  be  instructed  to  take  all  bodies  of  persons 
found  dead,  and  bodies  to  be  examined  with  special  care,  to  such  local 
morgues  from  surrounding  districts. 

Reports  of  Post-Mortem  Examinations — That  all  post-mortem 
examinations  should  be  full  and  thorough  and' reported  to  my  office,  as 
typewritten  statements  dictated  by  the  physician  making  the  examination, 
requires  no  argument.  It  is  an  improvement  which  would  be  immediately 
appreciated  by  the  many  who  consult  the  records  of  this  office.  By  such 
records  opportunities  would  be  open  to  all  to  judge  of  the  character  of  the 
examinations  made,  the  information  so  frequently  sought  for  in  connec¬ 
tion  with  civil  suits  would  be  available,  and  it  would  be  possible,  from  a 
study  of  such  records,  to  supplement  such  a  report  as  this  with  a  report 
of  scientific  value  to  the  medical  profession  generally. 

Court  Work  by  Coroner’s  Physicians — The  assistance  of  my  physi¬ 
cians  in  the  work  of  the  State’s  Attorney  in  prosecuting  crime  is  a  part  of 
their  routine.  The  conditions  obtaining  in  civil  suits,  such  as  suits  for 
damages,  for  insurance,  etc.,  are  different,  and  I  have  taken  the  stand  that 
fees  for  such  services  should  not  be  accepted  by  them  when  the  information 
and  testimony  they  have  to  offer  concerns  their  own  work  or  the  work 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


53 


of  any  of  their  colleagues;  in  short,  when  their  services  are  sought  in  regard 
to  a  death  investigated  by  this  office.  The  filing  of  full  typewritten 
statements  of  thorough  post-mortem  examinations  with  the  other  infor¬ 
mation  secured  at  the  inquests  would  do  much  to  lessen  the  calls  upon 
the  physician  for  testimony  in  civil  cases.  Another  remedy  for  this  con¬ 
dition,  and  especially  when  the  physicians  are  subpoenaed  to  court  and 
required  to  testify  as  experts,  would  be  to  make  provisions  for  the  auto¬ 
matic  return  to  this  office  of  an  adequate  fee  for  such  service  in  a  manner 
like  that  already  in  force  for  certified  copies  of  testimony. 

THE  COUNTY  MORGUE 

While  the  total  number  of  bodies  handled  at  the  morgue  approxi¬ 
mates  500  per  month  or  6,000  per  annum,  the  Coroner’s  cases,  including 
both  inquests  and  physicians’  certificates,  are  as  follows:  - 

Inquests  Certificates  Total 

1912  .  527  392  919 

1913  .  647  443  1,090 

Total  Coroner’s  cases  at  morgue  for  1912-1913 .  2,009 

The  dilapidated  and  totally  inadequate  condition  of  the  morgue 
located  upon  the  grounds  with  the  County  Hospital  has  been  the  subject 
of  a  number  of  communications  to  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners. 
The  fact  that  this  is  the  only  place  in  the  county  of  Cook  where  bodies 
are  regularly  sent  to  await  identification  is  in  itself  an  argument  for  im¬ 
mediate  steps  to  remedy  the  conditions.  It  is  hoped  ere  long  that  some 
provision  will  be  made  for  a  new  morgue,  as  this  house  of  death  is  so  grue¬ 
some,  so  repulsive,  as  to  needlessly  multiply  the  horror  of  those  who  go 
there  to  identify  the  marbled  faces  of  friends  and  relatives — the  victims 
of  sudden  or  violent  deaths. 

We  Make  Our  Cemeteries  Beautiful.  Why  should  we  not  employ 
the  same  humanitarian  instinct  in  relation  to  the  morgue  and  liberate 
this  temporary  resting  place  of  some  6,000  per  annum,  from  the  appearance 
of  an  abandoned  dumping  ground  for  debased  and  friendless  dead? 

Hundreds  of  mourners,  weeping  bitter  tears,  come  to  this  place  aghast, 
shocked  at  the  surroundings,  and  after  telling  the  keepers  their  tale  of 
sorrow  hurry  away  to  arrange  for  immediate  removal  of  their  dear  departed. 

Mothers  whose  husband,  son  or  daughter  left  home  a  few  hours  before, 
full  of  life,  come  wildly  lamenting,  hoping  against  hope,  and  find  their 
loved  ones  housed  in  a  dark,  unkempt  chamber  of  horrors. 

Why  cannot  our  morgue  be  placed  on  a  par  with  our  cemeteries? 

A  WHISTLE  FOR  THE  BLIND 

During  my  administration  a  number  of  those  who  have  been  fatally 
knocked  down  or  run  over  by  cars  and  vehicles  have  been  blind.  Of  course, 
all  the  calculations  made  by  drivers,  motormen,  engineers,  etc.,  are  on  the 
supposition  that  pedestrians  can  both  see  and  hear,  and  they  naturally 
expect  them  to  act  in  the  interest  of  their  personal  safety  in  response  to 
the  notification  of  their  senses. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  an  ordinance  be  passed  supplying  blind 
people  with  a  certain  kind  of  whistle,  and  further  obliging  all  those  w’ho 
have  charge  of  cars  or  vehicles  to  obey  the  sound  of  those  w’histles  by 
stopping  or  giving  the  right  of  way  to  these  persons  until  they  have  passed 
to  places  of  safety. 


54 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


CORONER’S  CASES 

The  total  number  of  Coroner’s  cases  during  the  past  two  years  was 
10,922,  or  an  annual  average  of  5,461.  Compared  with  the  year  19 1 1  there 
is  a  slight  decrease  in  the  number  of  coroner’s  cases  in  1912  and  an  increase 
of  3.56  per  cent  for  1913.  Of  the  10,922  deaths  investigated  by  this  office 
during  the  two  years  covered  by  this  report,  4,779,  or  an  average  of  2,389.5 
per  year,  are  classed  as  forms  of  disease;  2,442,  or  an  average  per  year  of 
1,221,  were  classed  as  miscellaneous  accidents;  1,126,  or  an  annual  average 
of  563,  were  suicides;  470,  or  an  average  of  235  per  annum,  were  homicides; 
1,463,  or  a  yearly  average  of  732.5,  were  accidents  of  the  street,  involving 
horse  vehicles,  automobiles,  street  cars  and  steam  railways;  and  489,  or  an 
average  for  each  year  of  244.5,  were  classed  as  industrial  accidents. 

The  following  table  shows  that  of  the  total  number  of  coroner’s  cases 
during  this  period,  an  average  for  each  year  of  43.74  per  cent  were  from 
forms  of  disease;  22.22  per  cent  from  miscellaneous  accidents;  10.32  per 
cent  committed  suicide;  4.4  per  cent  were  homicides;  2.13  per  cent  were 
automobile  accidents;  6.28  per  cent  were  railroad  accidents;  3.44  per  cent 
were  street  railway  accidents;  4.46  per  cent  were  industrial  accidents. 


Table  No.  6 


1912 


1913 


Total  Number  of  Coroner’s  Cases . 5,274 

Per  Cent  of  Increase  or  Decrease  over  1911 .  a3.3 

Forms  of  Disease . 2,336 

Per  Cent  of  Total .  44.29 

Miscellaneous  Accidents . 1,118 

Per  Cent  of  Total .  21.00 

Suicides .  554 

Per  Cent  of  Total . .  .  10.5 

Homicides .  237 

Per  Cent  of  Total .  4.5 

Abortion .  74 

Per  Cent  of  Total .  1.4 

Automobile .  98 

Per  Cent  of  Total . .  1.86 

Railroad .  326 

Per  Cent  of  Total . . . .  .  6.18 

Street  Railway .  209 

Per  Cent  of  Total .  3.96 

Horse  and  Horse  Vehicles .  89 

Per  Cent  of  Total .  .  .  . ' .  1.69 

Industrial .  251 

Per  Cent  of  Total .  4.75 

a — Decrease, 
b — Increase. 


5,648 
b3 . 56 
2,443 
43.25 
1,324 
23.44 
572 
10.13 
233 
4.13 
100 
1.8 
136 
2.4 
360 
6.38 
165 
2.92 
80 
1.42 
238 
4.22 


In  the  above  table  it  is  inevitable  that  to  a  very  small  degree  reckon¬ 
ing  of  the  same  cases  be  made  under  different  headings;  for  example,  there 
are  a  few  “Horse  and  Horse  Vehicle  Accidents’’  that  also  come  properly 
under  the  head  of  “Industrial  Accidents,’’  etc.  This  duplication  of  record 
amounts  to  about  3  per  cent  of  the  total,  and  is  unavoidable  in  connection 
with  the  present  classifications. 

4.79  per  cent  of  the  total  number  of  decedents  were  under  5  years 
of  age;  11.57  per  cent  were  under  20  years;  49.33  per  cent  were  between 
20  and  40  years;  14.77  per  cent  were  between  40  and  50;  23.24  per  cent 
were  over  50  years  of  age;  60.52  per  cent  were  male;  39.48  per  cent  were 
female. 

It  has  always  been  my  aim  when  holding  inquests  to  remove  as  many 
gruesome  features  in  connection  with  the  same  as  is  consistent  with  duty. 
I  have  endeavored  in  every  possible  way  to  spare  the  feelings  of  the  family 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


55 


and  friends  of  the  deceased,  but  have  not  permitted  delicacy  to  halt  the 
course  of  official  duty,  having  throughout  held  all  inquests  in  a  careful, 
conscientious  and  impartial  manner  so  that  the  best  results  might  be 
obtained  and  remedies  for  evils  and  abuses  discovered. 

The  total  number  of  deaths  classed  as  accidental  during  the  past 
two  years  was  4,373,  or  an  average  of  2,186.5  annum.  In  1912  there 
were  2,073  deaths  due  to  accidental  causes,  and  in  1913  2,300.  In  1912 
81.13  out  of  every  100,000  population  were  killed  accidentally;  in  1913 
87.72  out  of  every  100,000. 

HOMICIDES 

Homicide  in  Chicago  is  still  on  the  increase.  This  office  in  the  past 
two  years  held  inquests  on  470  cases,  an  average  of  235  per  year.  There 
was  an  increase  of  16  homicides  in  1912  over  the  total  for  1911,  and  an 
increase  of  12  in  1913.  It  is  not  the  duty  of  this  office  to  do  more  than 
make  a  primary  investigation  of  the  cause  of  homicide,  but  the  gravity 
of  the  situation  calls  for  an  intelligent  study  of  this  subject.  The  following 
comparison  shows  that  this  form  of  death  can  be  controlled.  In  19  ii 
there  occurred  221  homicides  in  my  jurisdiction,  while  in  London,  with 
a  population  three  times  as  great,  there  were  but  33.  If  Chicago  had  the 
population  of  London,  to  maintain  its  percentage  of  homicides  we  would 
have  had  in  19  ii  a  record  of  663  as  against  33  in  London.  The  figures 
are  so  striking  that  merely  stating  them  in  this  report  should  arouse  public 
interest  to  the  degree  that  a  remedy  would  be  found  to  decrease  this  great 
evil. 

ABORTION  ^ 

During  my  tenure  of  office  professional  abortionists  have  been  sent 
to  prison  for  long  terms,  establishing  the  principle  in  the  county  that 
criminals  of  this  class  can  and  will  be  punished.  Like  suicide,  much  of  the 
tendency  toward  committing  this  act  lies  deeply  rooted  in  the  social  and 
economic  fabric  of  society,  and  it  is  clear  to  the  student  of  sociology  that 
an  effective  remedy  for  this  evil  will  not  be  reached  except  by  means  which 
also  remedy  other  evils  that  are  related  to  it.  Outside  of  the  vicious  class 
known  as  professional  abortionists,  a  careful  study  of  this  act  discloses 
the  fact  that  those  who  commit  it  are  frequently  victims  rather  than  cul¬ 
prits,  that  they  are  more  sinned  against  than  sinning.  The  174  deaths 
during  the  last  two  years  that  can  be  traced  to  this  cause  is  no  doubt 
but  a  small  percentage  of  the  fatalities  that  actually  occur,  so  difficult 
is  it  to  obtain  accurate  information  in  relation  to  this  matter. 

SPEED  MANIA  AND  AUTOMOBILE  ACCIDENTS 

While  the  deaths  from  automobile  accidents  were  98  in  1912  and 
136  in  1913,  truly  a  large  increase,  a  careful  analysis  into  traffic  conditions 
in  this  county  and  a  comparison  between  horse  vehicle  and  power  vehicle 
accidents  and  fatalities  during  the  past  two  years  discloses  certain  truths 
which  cannot  be  denied.  In  order  to  present  a  vivid  and  accurate  picture 
of  the  situation  in  regard  to  automobile  accidents  in  Cook  County,  I 
instructed  my  statistician  to  make  a  most  searching  inquiry  into  the  police 
records  of  automobile  accidents,  the  number  of  horse  vehicles  and  power 
vehicles  in  Chicago,  the  average  daily  mileage  of  each,  the  total  mileage 
per  day  of  horse  drawn  and  power  vehicles  and  the  number  of  accidents 
of  each  per  5,000,000  miles  of  travel,  with  the  following  results: 


56 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


'  ,}>  i4  'Sa  ^'‘ 
0  *5 

^^44  Ci  JW.5W: 


V.-  <.•- 

i'^ 

■•<;:  ■«:  <>' 

•v.. 

1 

_ ,  ^  ..  *.0.^  -j 

Driver  should  Slow  Up  where  Children  are  Playing. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


57 


t 

Table  No.  7 


ACCIDENTS  OF  THE  STREET. 


In  Chicago  and  Cook  County. 


1910 

3,969  street  railway  accidents . 

1,596  horse  and  horse  vehicle  accidents . 

998  automobile  accidents . 

1911 

3,664  street  railway  accidents . 

1,561  horse  and  horse  vehicle  accidents . 

1,153  automobile  accidents . 

1912 

4,106  street  railway  accidents . 

1,507  horse  and  horse  vehicle  accidents . 

1,604  automobile  accidents . . 

1913 

4,283  street  railway  accidents . 

1,383  horse  and  horse  vehicle  accidents . 

2,029  automobile  accidents . 


of 

which  175 

were 

fatal 

a 

U 

67 

a 

u 

U 

52 

M 

u 

u 

161 

ti 

a 

u 

u 

75 

a 

u 

u 

u 

75 

a 

M 

a 

u 

209 

u 

u 

u 

u 

49 

u 

M 

a 

a 

98 

u 

m 

u 

u 

165 

M 

u 

u 

u 

44 

m 

u 

u 

a 

136 

u 

u 

The  following  comparative  tabulation  is  self-explanatory: 

Coroner’s  Cases. 

1910  1911  1912  1913 


Horse  vehicles .  67  75  49  44 

Automobiles . 52  75  98  136 

Accidents  Reported  to  the  Police  Department. 

Horse  vehicles .  1,695  1,561  1,507  1,383 

Automobiles .  998  1,153  1,604  2,029 


From  these  figures  it  is  seen  that  the  rapid  increase  in  the  number 
of  automobiles  in  use  during  the  past  four  years  and  the  corresponding 
decrease  in  the  number  of  horse  vehicles  is  definitely  shown,  not  only  in 
the  decrease  of  horse  vehicle  accidents  and  fatalities,  but  in  the  increase 
of  automobile  accidents,  as  the  above  comparison  of  four  years  clearly 
demonstrates. 

On  February  loth,  1914,  the  number  of  passenger  and  freight  vehicle^ 
of  all  classes,  licensed  and  unlicensed,  on  the  streets  of  Chicago  were  as 
follows : 

Horse  vehicles .  65,118  Power  vehicles .  37,406 

The  average  daily  mileage  of  all  the  passenger  and  freight  vehicles 
used  on  the  streets  of  Chicago  is  as  follows: 

Horse  vehicles . 12  miles  Power  vehicles . 42  miles 

Total  Daily  Mileage  in  Chicago 

Horse  vehicles . 781,416  miles  Power  vehicles . 1,571,052  miles 

Average  Number  of  Accidents  per  Day  for  Four  Years. 

Horse  vehicles . 4.15  Power  vehicles . 3.96 

Number  of  Accidents  to  Each  Five  Million  Miles. 

Horse  vehicles . 26.55  Power  vehicles . 12.6 

It  is  clear  that  comparisons  made  as  to  the  danger  between  horse 
vehicles  and  power  vehicles  must  be  estimated  on  efficiency,  and  as  the 
number  of  miles  traveled  is  the  only  rational  basis  on  which  to  figure,  this 
statement  covering  four  years  is  as  close  as  can  be  calculated  at  this  time 
without  securing  the  average  number  of  vehicles  in  use  throughout  the 
entire  period,  a  detail,  by  the  way,  which  would  make  but  little  difference 
in  the  general  results  obtained. 


58 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


A  reference  to  numerical  table  No.  55,  giving  the  principal  causes 
of  death  in  their  order,  will  show  that  automobile  accidents  occupy  tenth 
place  in  both  1912  and  1913,  and  this  in  connection  with  the  fact  that  there 
are  but  12.6  accidents  to  every  5,000,000  miles  of  travel  as  against  26.55 
accidents  to  every  5,000,000  miles  that  horse  vehicles  travel,  should  aid 
the  public  in  drawing  their  conclusions  on  a  more  accurate  basis  than  has 
been  the  custom  in  the  past. 

While  improperly  controlled  and  in  the  hands  of  incompetent,  care¬ 
less  or  inebriated  persons,  the  automobile  is  one  of  the  most  dangerous 
devices  that  human  ingenuity  has  contrived,  it  is  well  to  remember  that 
under  proper  conditions  it  is  one  of  the  most  useful  inventions,  one  of  the 
greatest  mechanical  servants  ever  contrived  for  the  use  of  man,  and  it  is 
for  the  people  themselves  through  laws,  regulation  and  education  to  so 
safeguard  its  use  as  to  secure  its  highest  benefits  with  the  least  possible 
expense  to  life  and  limb. 

In  the  campaigns  of  education  that  have  been  made  in  various  fields 
to  reduce  the  number  of  accidents  and  fatalities  it  is  invariably  found 
that  the  first  requisite  is  to  catalogue  the  several  principal  ways  in  which 
accidents  take  place,  and  it  is  in  line  with  this  general  plan  that  we  are 
giving  below  the  figures  in  relation  to  the  automobile  fatalities  in  the  city, 
in  the  country  and  in  parks  by  passenger  cars  and  trucks,  and  following 
will  be  found  thirteen  different  ways  in  which  automobile  fatalities  occurred 
in  1912  and  sixteen  in  1913,  which  will  form  most  interesting  reading  for 
those  who  are  either  learning  or  teaching  the  avoidance  of  automobile 
accidents : 


Table  No.  8 

AUTOMOBILE  FATALITIES  FOR  1912  AND  1913. 

,  1912  1913 


In  the  City . 95  113 

In  the  Country .  2  18 

In  Parks .  1  5 


#  Total .  98  136 

Passenger  Car . . .  75  106 

Truck .  23  30 


Total . 98  136 

Principal  Kinds  of  Accidents: 

Struck  and  knocked  down .  30  51 

Struck  and  run  over .  44  40 

Struck  and  dragged .  1  1 

Collision  with  auto  or  truck .  1  3 

Collision  with  wagon .  4  2 

Collision  with  train .  6 

Collision  with  street  car .  4 

Collision  with  horse .  1  •  •  • 

Collision  with  buggy  or  cab .  3  ... 

Collision  with  motorcycle .  2  ... 

Collision  with  bicycle .  2  2 

Collision  with  bridge  post,  etc .  4 

Skidding .  2  3 

Hitching .  4 

Cranking  car .  2 

Auto  turning  over .  ^ 

Auto  running  down  embankment .  2 

Auto  running  into  river .  4  ... 

Fell  from  automobile .  2  4 

Thrown  from  automobile .  2  4 


Total .  98  ■  136 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


59 


Contributing  Causes: 

Blame  not  fixed . 

Carelessness  of  driver . 

Inexperienced  driver . 

Driver  intoxicated . 

Speeding . . 

Carelessness  in  cranking . 

Misunderstanding  signals . 

Carelessness  of  deceased . 

Crossing  in  middle  of  block . 

Deceased  intoxicated . 

Confusion  of  deceased . 

Falling  in  front  of  auto . 

Jumped  from  wagon  in  front  of  auto 

Ran  from  behind  car . 

Skating  in  street . 

Hitching  to  auto . 

Defective  auto . 

Suicide . . . 

Surrounding  conditions . 


1912 

42 

21 

1 

G 


•  •  ■ 
4 
9 
1 

‘  2 
2 
1 


10 


1913 

44 

24 

7 

3 

2 

2 

1 

11 
18 
•  •  • 

3 

2 


1 

2 

2 

1 

13 


Total 


98  136 


Traffic,  passenger  and  freight,  must  necessarily  have  its  rights  in  the 
streets  and  highways  and  pedestrians  must  also  have  their  rights,  and  the 
result  of  the  great  campaign  of  the  Safety  Commission  in  the  Chicago 
public  schools  has  proven  that  education  in  both  mental  and  physical 
efficiency  is  the  only  remedy,  both  for  the  prevention  of  carelessness  on 
the  part  of  drivers  of  vehicles  and  of  pedestrians  who  use  the  same  streets. 
At  the  mercy  of  speed  maniacs  our  highways  of  travel  would  become 
more  perilous  than  a  battle  field,  but  when  the  people  as  a  whole  are  aroused 
the  situation  which  has  prevailed  for  weeks,  months  and  years  will  be  care¬ 
fully  considered  and  remedied,  so  that  our  county  and  city  may  have  all 
the  benefits  of  carrying  passengers  and  freight  through  the  streets  with 
power  vehicles,  with  the  sacrifice  of  life  and  limb  much  less  than  formerly 
caused  by  horse  vehicles  alone. 

If  those  who  merely  take  the  round  figures  in  connection  with  auto¬ 
mobile  accidents,  viz.:  i6  deaths  in  1907,  18  in  1908,  28  in  1909,  52  in  1910, 
75  in  19 1 1,  98  in  1912  and  136  in  1913,  would  also  consider  the  vast  mileage 
being  made  by  these  freight  and  passenger  vehicles,  together  with  the 
decrease  in  horse  vehicles  and  the  corresponding  increase  in  the  number 
of  power  vehicles,  they  would  get  a  true  idea  of  the  real  facts  and  relation¬ 
ships  involved. 

To  safeguard  all  concerned,  the  final  solution  of  the  automobile  situ¬ 
ation  in  all  cities  must  rest  upon  the  competency  and  efficiency  of  the 
drivers,  and  this  problem  will  no  doubt  be  gradually  worked  out  more  cr 
less  in  some  way  as  the  problem  relating  to  locomotive  engineers,  who  after 
having  been  trained  in  the  shops  as  firemen  and  proven  themselves  com¬ 
petent,  are  granted  a  license  and  given  charge  of  an  engine.  At  the  present 
time  in  Chicago  only  hired  chauffeurs  are  required  to  have  licenses,  whereas 
owners  of  automobiles,  their  sons,  daughters  and  relatives  are  permitted 
to  drive  their  cars  at  liberty  through  the  streets  without  licenses,  without 
training  or  examination  as  to  competency,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that 
there  are  a.  dozen  automobile  training  schools  in  Chicago,  certificates  of 
graduation  from  which,  including  competency  as  to  sight,  hearing,  nervous 
organization,  etc.,  should  be  sufficient  basis  on  which  to  grant  a  license, 
and  lacking  such  certificate,  should  be  a  basis  for  denying  or  revoking  a 
license. 

Not  until  the  commonwealth  takes  control  of  this  matter  as  to  who 
are  competent  to  drive  power  cars  on  the  streets  and  highways,  with  full 


60 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


A  Wrong  Signal — 18  Killed,  32  Wounded. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


61 


power  to  revoke  licenses,  will '  automobile  accidents  and  fatalities  be 
reduced  to  the  minimum. 

ELEVATOR  ACCIDENTS 

At  the  time  the  quadrennial  report  for  1908-1911  was  printed  I  felt 
that  we  were  to  be  congratulated  on  the  marked  decrease  in  elevator  fatal¬ 
ities.  The  record  for  1912  and  1913  permits  of  no  complacency  in  this 
matter.  In  1912,  forty-four  fatal  elevator  accidents  occurred  and  in  1913, 
forty  lives  were  sacrificed.  This  record  must  impress  upon  every  one  the 
great  necessity,  not  only  for  safety  ordinances  but  for  officials  who  will 
perform  their  duty  rigidly  and  conscientiously  in  enforcing  these  ordin¬ 
ances.  We  must  remember  that  against  this  official  carelessness  and  negli¬ 
gence  stands  human  life  itself.  Public  opinion,  in  the  face  of  the  above 
facts,  should  bring  such  pressure  upon  every  one  involved  that  1914  will 
show  material  improvement. 

RAILROAD  ACCIDENTS 

During  the  past  two  years  686  persons  were  killed  by  steam  railways, 
being  an  average  of  343  per  year.  The  number  killec^per  100,000  in  1912 
showed  a  decrease  of  .5  per  cent  from  1911.  During  1911,  13.4  persons 
out  of  every  100,000  population  were  killed.  In  1912  the  number  killed 
per  100,000  had  decreased  to  12.7.  Nineteen  hundred  and  thirteen,  how¬ 
ever,  shows  a  slight  increase  over  191 1,  the  number  per  100,000  being  13.8, 
or  an  increase  of  .29  per  cent.  With  proper  activities  in  the  further  aboli¬ 
tion  of  grade  crossings  and  a  willingness  on  the  part  of  railroad  officials 
to  adopt  the  recommendations  of  this  office  for  the  prevention  of  similar 
accidents,  such  as  erection  of  safety  gates,  the  fencing  of  their  right  of  way 
and  the  placing  of  flagmen  and  electric  bells  at  highway  crossings,  together 
with  proper  safety  regulations  and  appliances  in  shops  and  yards,  we  may 
reasonably  hope  that  1914  will  show  an  appreciable  decrease  in  human 
sacrifice.  The  fact  remains,  however,  that  the  general  public  is  not  alive 
to  the  great  danger  of  crossing  railroad  tracks  at  places  other  than  at  the 
highway  crossings.  Statistics  of  this  office  prove  that  in  the  past  two  years 
eighty-four  per  cent  of  those  killed  by  steam  railways  met  their  death  at 
places  along  the  right  of  way  other  than  at  highway  crossings.  Inasmuch 
as  forty-three  per  cent  of  those  killed  during  the  above  period  were  pass¬ 
engers  and  employes,  it  is  evident  that  the  majority  of  the  remaining 
fifty-seven  per  cent  were  trespassers  on  the  railroad  right  of  way,  and  came 
to  grief  owing  to  lack  of  care  for  their  own  safety. 

STREET  CAR  ACCIDENTS 

During  the  past  two  years  374  persons  were  killed  by  street  railways, 
or  an  average  of  187  per  year.  The  number  killed  in  1912  was  209  as  against 
1 61  in  1911,  and  165  in  1913.  The  record  for  1912  therefore  shows  an  in¬ 
crease  over  1911  of  29.19  per  cent;  1913  shows  increase  over  1911  of  2.48 
per  cent. 

Considering  the  earnest  activities  of  the  street  railway  companies  in 
the  line  of  public  safety  and  the  fact  that  their  educational  propaganda 
has  certainly  had  an  effect  in  lessening  street  car  catastrophes,  an  explan¬ 
ation  seems  necessary,  and  it  is  this:  That  there  were  25  per  cent  more 
street  cars  in  use  in  1913  than  in  1911,  w’hile  the  number  of  fares  has  in¬ 
creased  36  per  cent.  It  is  much  to  the  credit  of  the  street  railway  com¬ 
panies  for  having  brought  the  record  down  from  209  in  1912  to  165  in  1913, 
in  the  face  of  the  enormous  increase  in  traffic. 


62 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


A  Thoughtless  Moment  on  the  Part  of  Motorman  or  Children  may  Result  Fatally. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


63 


Six  and  four-tenths  persons  in  every  100,000  population  were  killed 
by  street  cars  in  1911;  in  1912  8.2  persons  in  every  100,000,  and  in  1913 
6.3  out  of  every  100,000. 

While  the  street  railway  companies  during  the  past  two  years  have 
done  much  toward  educating  the  people  on  their  personal  safety,  and  taken 
proper  precaution  for  the  prevention  of  accidents,  still  the  fact  remains 
that  a  large  proportion  of  the  fatal  accidents  belong  to  the  order  of  pre¬ 
ventable  casualties.  They  could  and  would  have  been  avoided  if  the  trac¬ 
tion  companies  had  provided  proper  facilities  for  transportation;  7.49  per 
cent  of  the  deaths  during  the  last  two  years,  due  to  falling  off  cars  and 
2.94  per  cent  killed  in  alighting  or  boarding  cars  are  directly  traceable  to 
over-crowding.  The  accidents  resulting  from  street  cars  hitting  wagons 
forms  8  per  cent  of  the  biennial  total  as  against  12  per  cent  of  the  quad¬ 
rennial  total  for  the  period  ending  November,  1911. 

Convincing  evidence  is  often  presented  at  inquests  that  motormen 
do  not  operate  their  cars  skillfully.  They  start  them  too  quickly  or  stop 
them  too  suddenly.  But  evidence  equally  convincing  is  furnished  that 
the  patrons  of  street  cars  often  take  great  risks  in  boarding  or  leaving 
moving  cars.  Constant  attention  to  safeguards  by  the  management,  by 
conductors  and  motormen  and  by  passengers  and  pedestrians  is  the  means 
by  which  the  casualty  list  can  be  kept  down. 

ELEVATED  RAILWAY  ACCIDENTS 

Seventeen  in  1912,  18  in  1913. 

Considering  the  increased  traffic  of  the  elevated  railways,  the  fact 
that  the  accident  fatalities  have  been  cut  down  to  ah  average  of  17.5  per 
annum  in  1912  and  1913,  as  compared  with  the  average  of  20  per  annum 
for  the  four  years  previous,  is  great  credit  to  the  Safety  First  activities 
and  educational  campaign  conducted  by  the  elevated  railroads  in  Chicago. 
As  before,  the  majority  of  the  accidents  listed  occurred  at  points  where 
the  trains  left  the  elevated  structure  to  run  on  the  surface  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  city. 


INDUSTRIAL  ACCIDENTS 

The  number  of  victims  from  industrial  accidents  during  1912  and 
1913  was  251  and  238  respectively.  During  the  course  of  my  adminis¬ 
tration  of  the  office  of  coroner,  I  have  observed  that  a  very  large  percentage 
of  the  families  and  dependents  of  decedents  are  left  in  a  practically  des¬ 
titute  condition.  Those  killed  in  shops,  factories,  elevators  and  in  other 
vocations  are  generally  men  of  family  who  make  up  our  industrial  army. 
Statistics  of  the  past  two  years  show  that  fifty-two  per  cent  of  those  killed 
in  industry  are  between  20  and  40  years  of  age.  A  certain  number  of 
accidents  are  inseparable  from  industry.  If  all  the  cunning  and  sympathy 
of  our  race  were  exhausted  in  the  attempt,  the  slaughter  could  not  be 
entirely  stopped.  It  can  be  greatly  reduced,  however,  by  safety  appliances 
and  by  throwing  a  financial  responsibility  upon  the  proprietors.  It  is 
only  elemental  justice  that  those  who  are  iinjured  in  the  industrial  battle 
should  be  cared  for  by  the  society  which  they  serve,  and  that  the  families 
of  those  slain  should  be  compensated  for  the  loss  of  their  breadwinners. 
Our  state  has  recognized  this  duty  by  establishing  a  system  of  industrial 
insurance  to  compensate  the  victims  for  the  loss  of  life  and  limb.  Our 
civilization  has  gained  the  advantage  of  the  toil  of  these  men,  and  having 
done  so,  it  is  but  just  that  we  bear  a  part  of  the  cost. 


BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  vSORRY 


64 


Band  Saw  Safeguarded  by  Wire  Netting 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


65 


ASPHYXIATION 

Three  hundred  and  ninety-four  deaths  occurred  from  accidental 
asphyxiation  during  the  past  two  years,  an  average  of  197  per  year,  which 
is  an  increase  of  11.93  per  cent  over  the  average  for  the  previous  four 
years,  ending  November,  1911.  This  shows  an  alarming  increase  in  the 
number  of  deaths  from  this  cause,  due  to  defective  gas  pipes  and  fixtures 
It  is  not  yet  the  duty  of  any  one  in  Cook  County  to  inspect  gas  fixtures 
in  private  houses.  I  believe  it  advisable  that  our  city  government  make 
provision  for  a  sufficient  number  of  inspectors  who  shall  be  attached  to 
the  city  gas  inspector’s  office,  to  make  regular  examinations,  or,  failing 
this,  place  this  duty  upon  the  Peoples  Gas  Light  and  Coke  Company. 

DROWNING 

During  the  past  two  years  there  occurred  301  cases  of  drowning.  This 
is  an  average  of  150.5  per  year.  As  the  summer  approaches,  I  trust  the 
police  authorities  will  take  proper  steps  toward  safeguarding  the  bathing 
beaches  and  enforcing  the  municipal  code  relating  to  the  fencing  of  clay 
holes. 


TETANUS 

During  the  past  two  years  verdicts  of  death  of  eighty  persons  from 
tetanus  were  returned  by  coroner’s  juries,  or  an  average  of  40  per  year. 
From  time  to  time  my  attention  has  been  called  to  deaths  from  tetanus 
or  lockjaw,  and  the  desirability  of  preventing  the  development  of  this 
disease  by  the  use  of  anti-tetanus  serum.  In  many  instances  this  remedy 
has  not  been  employed  until  the  disease  is  well  developed.  As  I  am 
assured  that  the  anti-tetanus  serum  is  not  only  harmless  but  highly  effi¬ 
cacious  when  given  in  time,  I  have  urged  upon  physicians  generally  that 
this  remedy  be  kept  on  hand  and  used  as  a  preventive  of  lockjaw,  to  the 
end  that  the  records  of  this  office  contain  a  lesser  number  of  deaths  from 
this  preventable  disease. 


SUICIDE 

Nineteen  hundred  and  thirteen  has  broken  all  previous  records  for 
the  number  of  suicides  in  Cook  County,  even  as  1912  surpassed  every 
record  up  to  that  year.  Five  hundred  and  seventy-two  in  1913  is  an  in¬ 
crease  of  13.19  per  cent  over  1911,  and  554  in  1912  is  an  increase  of  5.93 
per  cent  over  the  previous  year.  It  surely  is  high  time  that  the  subject 
of  suicide  is  intelligently  studied  and  a  kind  of  education  set  in  motion 
that  will  not  only  change  the  economic  conditions  under  which  self-des¬ 
truction  is  seen  to  increase,  but  that  will  implant  a  mental  attitude  from 
childhood  up  that  will  act  as  the  highest  form  of  prevention.  No  doubt 
the  suicide  committee  of  the  Public  Safety  Commission  will  give  this 
matter  the  most  serious  attention  during  the  coming  year. 

FIREARMS 

An  examination  of  the  statistics  of  suicides  and  homicides  for  1912 
and  1913  shows  that  an  average  of  28.95  cent  of  suicides  and  62.74  pcr 
cent  of  homicides  were  caused  by  firearms,  and  the  applause  of  the  entire 
people  is  due  to  the  humanitarian  movements  directed  not  only  toward 
the  enforcement  of  laws  relative  to  carrying  concealed  weapons,  but  toward 


66 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


the  abolition  of  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  these  dangerous  and  useless 
implements  of  death.  It  is  a  false  education  to  pretend  that  safety  is  found 
for  those  who  carry  or  own  firearms  for  protection,  as  our  records  show 
that  deaths  from  burglars  and  outlaws  have  frequently  occurred  to  those 
who  have  attempted  to  protect  themselves  with  a  gun.  Though  para¬ 
doxical,  statistics  bear  out  the  assertion  that  the  greatest  safety  is  to  those 
who  go  unarmed. 

Great  public  interest  has  been  aroused  and  safety  movements  have 
sprung  into  existence  largely  on  account  of  the  increase  in  automobile 
fatalities.  Sound  thinking  on  any  subject  demands  that  it  should  be 
considered  in  its  due  order  and  proportion  in  relation  to  other  matters. 
The  following  table  is  presented  so  that  firearm  and  automobile  fatalities 
may  be  compared  at  a  glance: 

1910  1911  1912  1913 

Automobile  fatalities .  52  75  98  136 

Firearm  fatalities . - .  267  290  339  328 

The  automobile  is  an  instrument  of  utility  and  peace,  whereas  fire¬ 
arms  are  primarily  instruments  of  destruction,  and  the  large  increase  in 
fatalities  of  this  class  in  1912  and  1913  over  the  previous  years  is  unwar¬ 
ranted  and  reprehensible  in  the  extreme. 

The  following  table  of  firearm  accidents,  homicides  and  suicides  for 
the  past  four  years  indicates  the  general  divisions  under  which  these  fatal¬ 
ities  occurred  and  the  probable  line  of  action  through  the  means  of  educa¬ 
tion  and  legislation  which  must  be  employed  to  lower  this  rate.  Does  it 
not  seem  to  indicate  that  a  general  all-around  education  is  necessary  in 
the  schools,  homes  and  through  the  press  in  the  matter  of  thoughtfulness, 
carefulness  and  precision  in  the  doing  of  things? 

Table  No.  9 

COMPARISON  OF  CLASSIFIED  FIREARM  FATALITIES  FOR  FOUR  TEARS. 

Accidental  Homicides  Suicides  Total 


1910  .  14  128  .  125  267 

1911  .  17  135  138  290 

1912  .  22  155  162  339 

1913  . T .  24  140  164  328 


The  table  that  follows  has  been  devised  to  show  a  comparison  of  the 
firearm  and  automobile  accidents  and  fatalities  in  Cook  County  during 
1913,  the  first  column  being  estimated,  while  the  fatalities  in  the  last 
column  are  exact  figures  taken  from  the  records  of  my  office: 


240  accidentally  shot  by  self  or  others . of  which  24  were  fatal 

612  attempted  homicide  by  shooting .  “  “  140  “  “ 

285  attempted  suicide  by  shooting .  “  “  164  “  “ 


1,140  total  firearm  casualties .  “  “  328  “  “ 

vs. 

2,346  automobile  accidents .  “  “  136  “  “ 


The  value  of  presenting  the  above  table  showing  the  near-fatalities 
as  well  as  the  fatalities  under  each  heading  is  manifest;  for  instance,  while 
but  24  were  fatally  shot  by  accident  in  1913,  240,  or  ten  times  as  many, 
were  shot  and  escaped  death  by  good  luck,  the  bullet  having  merely  hap¬ 
pened  to  have  struck  a  part  that  wa^  not  vital;  but  the  student  of  preven¬ 
tion  will  prefer  to  take  the  240  that  might  have  been  fatal,  rather  than  the 
24  that  were,  as  his  basis  for  procedure.  Again,  while  the  number  of  hom¬ 
icides  was  140,  it  is  seen  that  the  number  who  attempted  to  kill  and  failed 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


67 


were  612,  and  the  same  argument  applies  here.  While  the  total  number 
of  suicides  for  1913  was  572,  of  which  those  by  shooting  were  164,  it  is 
seen  that  almost  twice  this  number,  viz.,  285,  attempted  suicide  by  shoot¬ 
ing  and  were  unsuccessful,  and  again  the  above  argument  applies. 

Bearing  in  mind  that  the  gun  is  primarily  an  instrument  of  destruc¬ 
tion  and  that  the  automobile  is  primarily  an  instrument  of  utility,  it  is 
not  surprising  that  the  former  has  a  record  of  but  1,140  as  against  2,346 
total  automobile  accidents. in  the  year,  and  yet  firearm  fatalities  stand 
328  to  136  automobile,  for  the  reason  that  the  motive  of  destruction  is  not 
present  in  the  latter. 

The  above  figures  show  that  our  rational  citizens,  while  not  decreas¬ 
ing  one  iota  in  their  zeal  to  bring  automobile  fatalities  below  136  per  annum, 
should  multiply  their  determination  to  stamp  out  the  328  firearm  fatalities 
per  annum  in  the  ratio  that  these  figures  show  to  each  other. 

Among  the  experts  who  have  carefully  studied  firearm  fatalities, 
including  methods  of  prevention,  is  George  P.  Le  Brun,  author  of  the 
“Sullivan  Pistol  Law,”  and  for  sixteen  years  connected  with  the  Coroner’s 
office  in  New  York  City.  Mr.  Le  Brun  says  that  nearly  all  the  firearm 
accidents  and  more  than  half  the  murders  and  suicides  by  shooting  can  be 
prevented  by  a  stringent  law  prohibiting  the  sale  and  carrying  of  guns. 
He  proves  by  statistics  that  suicides  by  shooting  are  very  frequently  sug¬ 
gested  by  the  mere  possession  of  a  weapon,  that  many  murders  are  due  to 
the  presence  of  a  gun  in  the  possession  of  the  killer;  that  revolvers  are  of 
small  value  to  citizens  as  protection  against  burglary,  and  that  in  most 
cases  of  murder  by  burglars  the  victims  would  have  remained  alive  if  they 
had  been  unarmed. 

The  records  for  both  homicides  and  -  suicides  by  shooting  indicate 
that  the  actual  pulling  of  the  trigger  has  been  the  result  of  a  temporary 
nervousness  and  high  state  of  excitement,  and  that  as  a  rule ‘they  do  not 
intend  to  kill  the  victim,  but  merely  to  scare  him,  the  firing  of  the  gun 
and  the  killing  being  frequently  as  unexpected  to  the  slayer  as  to  the  one 
who  is  shot. 

The  carrying  of  weapons  is  not  a  safeguard  but  a  constant  menace, 
as  statistics  plentifully  show,  a  danger  not  onlv  to  the  bad  citizen  but  to 
the  good  one,  and  laws  rigidly  enforced  that  will  prevent  the  sale  and  the 
carrying  of  weapons  excepting  by  such  officials  as  are  especially  trained 
and  qualified  to  use  them  will,  as  shown  in  the  state  of  New  York,  decrease 

fatalities  from  this  cause  at  least  fifty  per  cent. 

♦ 

V.*- 

ELECTROCUTION 

Electrical  work  has  contributed  its  share  of  coroner’s  cases  during 
the  past  two  years,  as  the  following  tabulations  will  show.  While  as  a  rule 
men  employed  in  this  work  are  experienced  in  their  profession  and  are 
fully  aware  of  the  conditions  under  which  live  wires  are  dangerous,  it  is 
seen  that  many  of  them  grow  careless  and  fail  to  adjust  their  safety  belts 
when  working  in  dangerous  places,  and  will  even  leave  off  their  rubber 
gloves  and  boots  that  are  provided  for  the  purpose.  Formerly  a  large 
number  of  those  who  were  electrocuted  while  at  work  were  new  employes 
who  had  not  become  conversant  with  the  hazard  of  the  electrical  profes¬ 
sion,  but  it  having  been  fully  demonstrated  that  it  is  a  form  of  criminal 
carelessness  to  set  new  men  at  work  adjusting  belts  and  climbing  poles 
in  the  vicinity  of  live  wires,  fatality  among  inexperienced  employes  has 
greatly  decreased. 


68 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Lineman  Working  without  Safety  Feet,  Contrary  to  Instructions 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


69 


w  . 


■.  16 


.1^*  ^  -  I 


^  - 


'9* '  t 


The  Result 


70 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  vSORRY 


Table  No.  lo 

ELECTROCUTION  FATALITIES. 

1912  1913 


Contact  directly  with  live  wire  (employes) .  6  18 

Contact  directly  with  live  wire  (children  and  others) .  8 

Handling  chain,  belt,  wire,  etc.,  that  came  in  contact  with  live  wire 

(employes) .  10  4 

Contact  with  third  rail  (employe) .  2 

Using  electrical  vibrator  while  taking  bath .  1 


Total .  16  33 


STATISTICAL  DEPARTMENT 

This  department  was  installed  during  the  first  year  of  my  adminis¬ 
tration,  and  has  beeti  improved  annually  ever  since,  until  now  it  may  be 
said  that  the  records  and  tabulations  of  this  office  are  unexcelled  by  any 
government  department  or  bureau  in  the  country. 

This  is  an  age  of  statistics.  The  development  of  statistical  science 
during  the  past  few  years  has  a  deep  meaning  in  relation  to  all  the  affairs 
of  life  and  thought,  and  this  meaning,  expressed  in  concise  terms,  is  the 
refusal  of  thinking  people  to  continue  their  dependence  upon  tradition, 
estimates  or  guesswork  when  facts  and  figures  are  to  be  had  which  aie 
capable  of  being  formulated  into  statistical  tables  that  carry  a  world  of 
information. 

A  guess  or  an  impression  as  a  rule  amounts  to  nothing  more  than 
the  experience  of  the  one  person  who  so  indulges  himself,  whereas  statis¬ 
tical  tables  and  classifications  involve  the  experiences  of  thousands,  uncol¬ 
ored  by  the  personal  equation;  and  the  classifications  of  my  office  and  the 
lessons  taught  involve  all  of  the  people  in  Cook  County  who  have  come  to 
sudden  and  violent  deaths,  and  the  ways  in  which  these  deaths  have  oc¬ 
curred  are  so  classified  that  they  may  be  employed  for  guidance  as  an  aid 
to  avoiding  similar  catastrophes  in  the  future. 

In  the  past  statistical  records  of  public  departments  or  bureaus  have 
been  designed  primarily  as  a  convenience  to  the  bureau  itself;  whatever 
tables  or  classifications  have  been  made,  instead  of  being  arranged  for  the 
purpose  of  guidance  to  the  general  public,  have  been  more  as  a  convenience 
to  the  clerical  force  or  a  record  of  interest  to  the  bureau  or  its  administrator. 
A  perusal  of  this  report  indicates  a  complete  change  from  the  bureaucratic 
motive,  the  entire  stress  of  the  within  tables  and  classifications  being  to 
serve  all  the  people  as  guidance  in  avoiding  danger  to  life  and  limb. 


Table  No.  ii 

COMPARATIVE  SUMMARY  PER  100,000  POPULATION. 


Number  of  Coroner’s  Cases  per  100,000  Population. 
Number  of  Miscellaneous  Accidents  per  100,000 

Population . 

Number  of  Suicides  per  100,000  Population . 

Number  of  Homicides  per  100,000  Population . 

Accidents  of  the  Street: 

Number  of  Automobile  Fatalities  per  100,000 

Population . . 

Number  of  Railroad  Fatalities  per  100,000 

Population . 

Number  of  Street  Railway  Fatalities  per  100,000 

Population . 

Number  Horse  and  Horse  Vehicle  Fatalities  per 

100,000  Population . 

Number  Industrial  Fatalities  per  100,000  Popula¬ 
tion . 


1911 

1912 

1913 

2,490,195 

2,554,516 

2,622,100 

219.0 

206.4 

215.41 

46.62 

43.77 

50.49 

21.0 

21.5 

21.8 

8.8 

9.3 

8.9 

3.0 

3.8 

5.3 

13.4 

12.7 

13.8 

6.4 

8.2 

6.3 

4.5 

3.1 

3.1 

11.12 

9.82 

9.0 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


71 


DEPARTMENT  OF  ALPHABETICAL  TABLES 

For  purposes  of  brevity,  the  following  tables  will  cover  only  the  years  1912 
and  1913,  the  lessons  involved  being  emphasized  by  the  maintenance  of  the  same 
proportions  shown  by  the  figures  of  previous  years. 


Table  No.  12 


INQUESTS  BY  MONTHS. 

1912 


1913 


December , 
January. . 
February. 
March .  .  . 
April .... 

May . 

June . 

July . 

August .  .  . 
September 
October. . 
November 


342 

410 

387 

331 

335 

352 

347 

380 

324 

350 

370 

368 

350 

393 

393 

412 

330 

348 

359 

368 

352 

344 

337 

329 

Total  Inquests 


4,226 


4,385 


Table  No,  13 

S0Z  * 

Male .  3,175  3,436 

Female .  .  1,051  949 


Total . . .  4,226  4,385 


Table  No.  14 


Ages: 

Under  5  years .  236 

5  to  10  years .  128 

10  to  20  years .  257 

20  to  30  years .  747 

30  to  40  years .  838 

40  to  50  years . .  744 

50  to  60  years .  661 

60  to  70  years .  360 

70  to  80  years .  123 

Over  80  years .  45 

Not  ascertained .  87 


290 

114 

238 

768 

845 

882 

648 

343 

129 

34 

94 


Total 


4,226 


4,385 


Table  No,  15 


O /•A  * 

White .  4,043  4,215 

Colored .  175  157 

Yellow .  8  11 

Red .  2 


Total .  4,226  4,385 


Table  No,  16 


Civil  Condition: 

Single . 1,511 

Married . 1,929 

Widowers . 286 

Widows .  182 

Divorced . 56 

Not  ascertained .  .  262 


1,599 

2,028 

272 

166 

84 

236 


4.226  4,835 


Total 


72 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  wSORRY 


Table  No.  17 

CAUSES  OF  DEATHS 

Abortion: 

Accidental . 

Criminal . 

Spontaneous . 

Self-induced . 

Undetermined . 

Total  Deaths  from  Abortion . 

Accidents : 

Automobile . 

Bicycle . 

Motorcycle . 

Elevator . 

Elevated  Railawy . 

Railroad . 

Street  Car . 

Wagon . 

Total . 

Industrial  Accidents : 

Suffocated  by  Gases . 

Burned  by  Metals . 

Scalded  by  Hot  Water . 

Killed  in  Elevator . 

Caught  in  Machinery . 

Building  Collapse . 

Electrocution . 

Explosion . 

Struck  by  Falling  Objects . ' . 

Falling  down  Elevator  Shaft . 

Falling  off  his  own  Wagon . 

Falling  down  Ladder . 

Falling  in  Culvert.  . . 

Falling  from  Telephone  Pole . 

Falling  off  Scaffold . 

Falling  from  Airship . 

Falling  through  Skyhght . 

Falling  from  Building . 

Falling  from  Roof . . 

Falling  from  R.  R.  Bridge . 

Falling  out  of  Window . 

Smothered  in  Smokestack . 

Smothered  in  Glucose  Car . 

Smothered  in  Bin . 

Kicked  by  Horse . 

Total  Industrial  Accidents . 

Miscellaneous  Accidents: 

Alcoholism . 

Asphyxiation,  Accidental . 

Asphyxiation,  Undetermined . 

Amusement  Park  Device . 

Baseball . 

Burns  and  Scalds . 

Choking,  Accidental . 

Choking,  Undetermined . 

Crushed  in  Earth . 

Cutting,  Accidental . 

Drowning,  Accidental . 

Drowning,  Undetermined . 

Diving  onto  Rock  or  Bottom . 

Electrocution . 

Electrocution,  Trolley  Wires . 

Electrocution,  Light  Wires . 

Exposure . 

Exposure  and  Neglect . 

Fading  Objects . 


1912 

1913 

9 

8 

13 

12 

6 

5 

24 

33 

22 

42 

74 

100 

98 

136 

•  ♦  • 

1 

8 

14 

4 

7 

17 

18 

326 

360 

209 

165 

42 

37 

704 

738 

11 

•  «  • 

1 

4 

11 

7 

17 

21 

18 

28 

•  •  • 

2 

14 

15 

17 

16 

37 

49 

23 

12 

40 

36 

13 

10 

2 

1 

•  •  • 

30 

25 

3 

3 

1 

6 

3 

.  1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

•  •  • 

7 

251 

238 

60 

97 

110 

148 

61 

64 

1 

•  •  • 

2 

«  •  • 

187 

232 

6 

6 

1 

1 

•  •  • 

1 

2 

1 

74 

84 

80 

63 

3 

.  •  • 

4 

•  •  • 

1 

2 

12 

4 

6 

24 

13 

12 

5 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


73 


FaUs— 

Out  of  Chair . 

On  Floor . 

Out  of  Window . 

Off  Ladder . ^ . 

Down  Stairs . 

On  Street . 

F rom  Horse . *.  .  . 

Into  Hold  of  Boat . 

From  Smoke  Stack . 

In  Showcase . 

From  Telephone  Pole . 

From  Tree . 

From  Porch . 

From  Bridge . 

On  Skates. . . 

Heat  Prostration . 

Honucide . 

Hydrophobia.  . . 

Poisoning,  Accidental . 

Poisoning,  Undetermined . 

Poisoning,  Ptomaine . 

Shooting,  Accidental . 

Shooting,  Undetermined . 

Suffocated  (Children) . 

Suicide. . . . •. . 

Septicaemia . 

Struck  by  Lightning . 

Tetanus . 

Revolver . 

Toy  Pistol . 

Otherwise . 

Crushed  under  Wheels . 

Hanging,  Accidental . 

Undetermined  Violence . 

Under  Anaesthetic . . 

Forms  of  Disease . 

Suffocated  by  Water  Heaters . 

Kicked  by  Horse . 

Starvation . 

Total  Inquests . 

Recapitulation : 

Abortion . 

Accidents . 

Industrial  Accidents . 

Miscellaneous  Accidents . . 

Total  Inquests . 


Table  No.  i8. 


Nativity: 

1912 

1913 

Americans . 

. 2,088 

2,003 

Austrians . 

.  213 

243 

Africans . 

.  1 

53 

Belgians . 

.  11 

5 

Bohemians . 

.  90 

91 

Bulgarians . 

.  7 

4 

Canadians . 

.  68 

71 

Chinese . 

.  5 

9 

Danes . 

.  48 

26 

English . 

.  66 

86 

Finns . 

.  5 

5 

French . 

.  9 

7 

Germans . 

.  487 

522 

Greeks . . 

.  14 

25 

Hollanders . . 

.  21 

14 

Hungarians . 

.  51 

74 

Irish . 

.  263 

242 

Nativity: 

Italians . 

Japanese . 

Mexicans . 

Norwegians . 

Palestines . 

Polish . 

Roumanians . 

Russians . 

Scotch . 

Spaniards . 

Swedes . 

Swiss . 

Turks . 

Welsh . . 

Not  Ascertained 

Total . 


1912 

1913 

4 

5 

24 

26 

42 

56 

24 

18 

92 

91 

50 

58 

6 

2 

1 

6 

•  •  • 

1 

•  •  • 

1 

•  •  • 

1 

•  •  • 

1 

•  •  • 

12 

2 

2 

•  •  • 

10 

51 

237 

233 

7 

2 

35 

35 

15 

26 

2 

3 

18 

15 

4 

9 

6 

4 

554 

572 

54 

41 

1 

2 

•  •  • 

2 

1 

■  •  • 

1 

•  •  • 

31 

45 

•  .  • 

1 

•  .  • 

1 

29 

46 

16 

18 

288 

1,180 

10 

1 

7 

•  «  • 

1 

226 

4,385 

74 

100 

704 

738 

251 

238 

197 

3,309 

226 

4,385 

1912 

1913 

112 

4 

80 

85 

8 

68 

39 

Hi 

11 

5 
1 

225 


130 

2 

2 

58 

1 

102 

5 

175 

23 

2 

153 

5 

4 

3 

236 


4,226  4,385 


74 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Table  No.  19. 


Occupations : 

1912 

1913 

Actor . 

5 

12 

Actress . 

6 

2 

Advertiser . 

1 

2 

Agent . 

24 

28 

Architect . . 

1 

1 

Artist . 

3 

1 

Acrobat . 

1 

Aviator . 

3 

2 

Baker . 

14 

13 

Banker . 

2 

Barber . 

27 

20 

Bartender . .  .  , 

29 

30 

Baseball  Player . 

1 

•  •  • 

Blacksmith . 

23 

31 

Bookbinder . 

5 

1 

Bookkeeper . 

26 

23 

Bootblack . 

1 

Boxmaker .  . 

3 

2 

Brakeman . 

14 

9 

Bricklayer . 

20 

26 

Brickmaker . 

6 

Breweryman . 

9 

4 

Broker . 

13 

6 

Broommaker . 

3 

2 

Butcher . 

24 

32 

Buyer . 

1 

5 

Bellhop . 

1 

Boilermaker . 

2 

5 

Cabdriver . 

6 

1 

Cabinetmaker . 

9 

14 

Candymaker . 

2 

4 

Car  Cleaner . 

3 

•  •  • 

Car  Inspector . 

6 

•  «  • 

Car  Repairer . 

8 

16 

Carpenter . 

88 

89 

Chauffeur  . 

13 

11 

Chemist . 

1 

1 

Cigarmaker . 

10 

12 

City  Firemen . 

6 

2 

Civil  Engineer . 

1 

1 

Clerk . 

.  145 

133 

Coal  Dealer . 

3 

4 

Collector . 

6 

8 

Conductor . 

19 

15 

Chiropodist . 

1 

Contractor . 

5 

10 

Cook . 

35 

37 

Cooper . 

8 

5 

Cornicemaker . 

1 

Custodian . 

•  •  «  • 

1 

Craneman . 

•  •  •  « 

2 

Dentist . 

2 

1 

Designer . 

2 

2 

Detective . 

3 

Domestic . 

80 

59 

Draftsman . 

3 

4 

Dressmaker . 

13 

11 

Druggist . 

2 

3 

Dyer . 

5 

2 

Decorator . 

4 

Dredger . 

1 

Electrician . 

is 

17 

Elevator  Conductor . 

11 

18 

Engineer . 

33 

36 

Engraver . 

2 

Factory  Hand . 

28 

36 

Farmer . 

36 

35 

Fireman . 

16 

26 

Fisherman . 

2 

3 

Flagman . 

7 

5 

Occupations : 

1912 

1913 

Florist . . 

.  3 

1 

Foreman . 

.  15 

19 

Finisher . 

1 

Gardener . 

.  4 

5 

Gasfitter . 

.  2 

1 

Glassworker . 

.  4 

3 

Grocer . 

.  9 

7 

Guard . 

.  1 

2 

Glovemaker . 

1 

Harnessmaker . 

.  1 

3 

Hatter . 

.  1 

1 

Hodcarrier . 

.  8 

5 

Hostler . 

.  5 

13 

Housekeeper . 

.  90 

70 

Housewife . 

.  531 

441 

Hotel  Man . 

1 

House  Mover . 

.  3 

Inspector . 

.  11 

6 

Insurance  Adjuster. . 

.  5 

1 

Inventor . 

2 

Ironworker . 

.  20 

28 

Janitor . 

.  38 

40 

Janitress . 

7 

Jeweler . 

.  2 

10 

Junk  Dealer . 

3 

Laborer . 

.  800 

834 

Lace  Cleaner . 

.  1 

1 

Laundryman . 

4 

4 

Laundress . 

.  11 

14 

Lawyer . 

.  6 

6 

Lineman . 

.  3 

11 

Lithographer . 

.  2 

•  •  • 

Liveryman . 

.  1 

3 

Locksmith . 

.  1 

1 

Machinist . 

.  55 

86 

Mail  Carrier . 

.  7 

3 

Manager . 

.  9 

9 

Manufacturer . 

.  14 

11 

Merchant . 

.  42 

31 

Messenger . 

.  8 

13 

Midwife . 

.  1 

1 

Milk  Dealer . 

.  1 

3 

Miller . 

.  4 

1 

Milliner . 

.  1 

2 

Miner . 

2 

Minister . 

.  2 

1 

Molder . 

.  18 

18 

Motorcyclist . 

.  1 

1 

Motorman . 

.  9 

16 

Musician . 

.  13 

8 

Newsboy . 

1 

Newspaperman ...... 

.  2 

2 

None . 

.  430 

488 

Nurse . 

.  15 

4 

Oiler . 

5 

Operator . 

.  8 

2 

Optician . 

4 

Painter . 

.  63 

66 

Paperhanger . 

.  5 

3 

Patternmaker . 

3 

Peddler . 

.  26 

22 

Photographer . 

5 

Physician . 

.  4 

12 

Pilot . 

2 

Plasterer . 

.  5 

8 

Plumber . 

.  10 

8 

Police  Officer . 

.  12 

20 

Porter . 

.  56 

62 

Promoter . 

.  1 

3 

Printer . 

.  12 

29 

Prostitute . 

.  3 

1 

Publisher . 

.  3 

1 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


75 


Occupations 

1912 

1913 

Packer . 

_  4 

9 

Poster . 

....  1 

•  •  • 

Polisher . 

5 

Ragpicker . 

1 

R.  R.  Guard . 

....  4 

1 

Real  Estate  Dealer . . . . 

. . . .  17 

15 

Restaurant  Keeper . .  .  . 

.  .  .  .  4 

9 

Roofer . . 

5 

8 

Rodman . 

.  .  .  .  1 

Retired . 

.  .  .  .  2 

•  •  • 

Sailor . 

.  .  .  .  11 

12 

Saleslady . 

3 

3 

Salesman . 

....  48 

59 

Saloonkeeper . 

....  22 

26 

School  Boy . 

. . . .  109 

106 

School  Girl . 

....  42 

31 

School  Teacher . 

5 

10 

Secretary . 

3 

1 

Shoemaker . 

.  16 

14 

Shop  Boy . 

5 

Shop  Girl . 

6 

•  •  • 

Sign  Writer . 

1 

Soldier . 

.  .  . .  1 

•  •  • 

Solicitor.  .  .  . 

.  .  .  .  4 

6 

Speculator . 

.  . .  .  1 

•  •  • 

Stagehand . 

.  .  . .  1 

1 

Steamfitter . 

.  .  .  .  15 

12 

Stenographer . 

.  .  .  .  5 

5 

Stonecutter . 

7 

6 

Student . 

3 

5 

Superintendent . 

.  .  .  .  2 

4 

Switchman . 

.  . . .  43 

67 

Surveyor . 

.  .  . .  1 

•  •  • 

Steeplejack . 

2 

Tender . 

. .  .  ■ 

1 

Tailor . 

.  . .  .  45 

46 

Tailoress . 

. .  .  .  5 

8 

Tanner . 

.  .  . .  8 

2 

Teamster.  . . 

.  .  .  .  141 

156 

Telegraph  Operator .  .  . 

.  .  .  .  3 

10 

Ticket  Broker . 

. 

3 

Tinsmith . 

.  .  . .  9 

3 

Trackman . 

. . .  .  2 

1 

Traveling  Salesman  .  .  . 

3 

1 

Towerman . 

. 

5 

Trimmer . 

1 

Undertaker . 

.  .  . .  1 

2 

Undetermined . 

. . . .  221 

207 

Upholsterer . 

.  .  .  .  1 

4 

Valet . 

1 

Wagon  Boy . 

1 

Wagonmaker . 

.  .  .  .  2 

1 

Waiter . 

. . . .  23 

24 

Waitress . 

.  . . .  5 

11 

Watchman . 

.  .  . .  48 

52 

Window  Washer . 

. .  . .  1 

6 

Woodworker . 

. . . .  14 

4 

Wrapper . 

1 

W  recker . 

1 

Yardmaster . 

.  .  .  .  1 

3 

Total .  4,228  4,385 


SXnCIDES  BY  MONTHS. 

Table  No.  20. 


December . 

.  26 

59 

January . 

.  40 

45 

February . 

.  50 

47 

March . 

43 

1912 

1913 

April . 

.  54 

56 

May . 

.  51 

42 

June . 

.  46 

54 

July . 

.  57 

41 

August . 

.  43 

51 

September . 

.  51 

42 

October . .’ . 

.  37 

56 

November . 

.  43 

36 

Total . 

.  554 

572 

Table  No.  21. 

Sex: 

Male . 

.  413 

433 

Female . 

.  141 

139 

Total . 

.  554 

572 

Table  No.  22. 

Race: 

White . 

545 

564 

Colored . 

7 

6 

Yellow . 

2 

2 

Total . 

,  554 

572 

Table  No.  23. 

Civil  Condition: 

Married . 

304 

316 

Single . 

158 

165 

Widower . 

42 

35 

Widow . 

12 

22 

Divorced . 

6 

14 

Not  ascertained . 

32 

20 

Total . 

554 

572 

Table  No.  24. 

Ages : 

5  to  10  years . 

1 

•  •  • 

10  to  20  years . 

47 

24 

20  to  30  years . 

129 

134 

30  to  40  years . 

134 

120 

40  to  50  years . 

95 

117 

50  to  60  years . 

87 

107 

60  to  70  years . 

40 

47 

70  to  80  years . 

12 

11 

Over  80  years . 

4 

6 

Not  ascertained . 

5 

6 

Total . 

554 

572 

Table  No.  25. 

Nativity: 

Americans . 

222 

225 

Austrians . 

42 

41 

Africans . 

7 

5 

Belgians . 

2 

1 

Bohemians . 

30 

24 

Bulgarians . 

2 

Canadians . 

6 

9 

Chinese . 

2 

2 

Danes . 

13 

8 

English . 

7 

11 

Finns . 

2 

3 

French . 

7 

1 

Germans . 

88 

109 

Greeks . 

2 

Hollanders . 

3 

1 

76 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Nativity:  1912  1913 

Hungarians .  8  15 

Irish .  12  9 

Italians .  7  13 

Japanese .  1 

Norwegians .  7  10 

Polish .  10  7 

Roumanians .  1  ... 

Russians .  30  28 

Scotch .  1  2 

Swedes .  18  23 

Swiss .  2 

Not  ascertained .  29  18 


Total .  554  572 

Table  No.  26. 

Mode  of  Death: 

Asphyxiation .  153  163 

Cutting .  22  33 

Drowning .  20  22 

Hanging .  57  57 

Jumping  from  window .  5  9 

Jumping  from  building .  3  2 

Jumping  under  train .  2  6 

Poisoning .  130  109  , 

Setting  fire  to  clothes .  7 

Shooting .  162  164 


Total . 554  572 

Table  No.  27. 

Poisons  Used: 

Arsenic . .  3  ... 

Carbolic  acid .  74  60 

Chloride  of  zinc .  3  4 

Chloroform .  9  6 

Corrosive  sublimate .  3  2 

Cyanide  of  potassium .  6  7 

Morphine .  2  2 

Muriatic  acid .  1  2 

Narcotic .  4  5 

Opium . 2  1 

Paris  green .  6  3 

Prussic  acid .  1 

Rough  on  rats .  4  5 

Strychnine .  2  4 

Not  ascertained .  11  7 


Total .  130  109 

Table  No.  28. 

Probable  Cause: 

Despondency .  187  165 

Insane.. .  26  25 

Temporarily  insane . .  .  171  195 

Not  ascertained .  170  187 


Total .  554  572 


HOMICIDES. 

Table  No.  29. 

Sex: 

Male .  180  211 

Female .  57  22 

Total .  237  233 


Table  No.  30. 


Race:  1912  1913 

White .  199  195 

Colored .  38  36 

Yellow .  2 


Total .  237  233 

Table  No.  31. 

Civil  Conditions: 

Married .  Ill  113 

Single .  Ill  102 

Widower .  6  5 

Widow. . . .' .  4 

Divorced .  3  2 

Not  ascertained .  6  7 


Total .  237  233 

Table  No.  32. 

Ages: 

Under  5  years .  13  6 

5  to  10  years .  4  3 

10  to  20  years .  26  17 

20  to  30  years .  78  85 

30  to  40  years .  57  57 

40  to  50  years .  35  28 

50  to  60  years .  12  18 

60  to  70  years .  4  5 

70  to  80  years .  2  3 

Over  80  years .  1  ... 

Not  ascertained .  5  11 


Total .  237  233 

Table  No.  33. 

Cause  of  Death: 

Asphyxiation .  9  3 

Blow  on  head  or  body .  42  42 

Cutting .  7  5 

Drowning .  2  1 

Explosion .  1  11 

Neglect .  1  .  . . 

Poison .  1  3 

Shooting .  155  140 

Stabbing.. .  14  25 

Strangulation ....  3  3 

Thrown  out  of  window .  1  ... 

Thrown  down  stairs .  1  .  .  . 


Total .  237  233 

Table  No.  34. 

Disposition : 

Accidents .  27  27 

Justifiable .  27  37 

Murder .  168  162 

Murder  and  suicide .  15  7 


Total .  237  233 

Table  No.  35. 

Nativity: 

Americans .  129  112 

Austrians .  14  7 

Africans .  6 

Belgians .  2 

Bohemians .  2  1 

Bulgarians .  4 

Canadians . . 2  2 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


77 


Nativity: 

1912 

1913 

Danes . 

.  4 

English . 

2 

French . 

1 

Germans . 

.  16 

12 

Greeks . 

.  3 

2 

Hungarians . 

.  4 

7 

Irish . 

.  7 

14 

Italians . 

.  26 

35 

Norwegians . 

.  2 

3 

Polish . 

.  4 

7 

Roumanians . 

.  2 

3 

Russians . 

.  7 

11 

Scotch . 

.  1 

1 

Swedes . 

.  1 

2 

Swiss.  . . 

.  1 

1 

Not  ascertained . 

.  6 

4 

Total . 

.  237 

233 

TRANSPORTATION  ACCIDENTS. 

Table  No.  36. 

Sex: 

Male . 

.  479 

499 

Female . 

.  75 

44 

Total . 

,  554 

543 

Table  No.  37. 


Race: 

White . 

Colored . 

Yellow . 

.  547 

.  7 

529 

13 

1 

Total . 

.  554 

543 

Table  No.  38. 

Civil  Condition: 

Married . 

261 

266 

Single . 

201 

188 

Widower . 

31- 

33 

Widow . 

16 

16 

Divorced . 

2 

10 

Not  ascertained . 

43 

30 

Total. .  - . 

554 

543 

Table  No.  39. 

Ages: 

Under  5  years . 

18 

8 

5  to  10  years . 

25 

15 

10  to  20  years . 

40 

38 

20  to  30  years . 

116 

109 

30  to  40  years . 

106 

103 

40  to  50  years . 

92 

108 

50  to  60  years . 

71 

58 

60  to  70  years . 

46 

51 

70  to  80  years . 

12 

24 

Over  80  years . 

4 

4 

Not  ascertained . 

,  24 

25 

Total . 

.  554 

543 

Table  No.  40. 


Nativity:  1912  1913 

Americans .  240  231 

Austrians .  32  22 

Africans .  5 

Belgians .  4 

Bohemians .  5  13 

Bulgarians .  1 

Canadians .  12  3 

Chinese .  1  .  .  . 

Danes .  3  1 

English .  6  5 

French .  10  2 

Germans .  45  69 

Greeks .  5  9 

Hollanders .  9  3 

Hungarians .  6  12 

Irish .  47  42 

Italians .  25  19 

Japanese .  1 

Mexicans .  1 

Norwegians .  6  6 

Polish . 18  16 

Roumanian .  2  1 

Russian .  19  31 

Scotch .  3  2 

Swedes .  21  19 

Turks .  2  1 

Not  ascertained .  32  29 


Total .  554  543 


RAILWAY  ACCIDENTS. 
Table  No.  41. 


Cause  of  Death: 

Collision .  24  9 

Crossing  Tracks .  73  74 

Crushed  by  Cars .  12  26 

Falling  off  Train .  27  25 

Jumping  on  or  off .  13  17 

Scalded  by  Steam .  4  1 

Struck  by  Viaduct .  5  2 

Walking  on  Track .  119  149 

Hitching .  4  9 

Coupling .  2  ... 

Leaning  out  of  Car .  2 

Wreck .  2  16 

Run  Down .  22  ... 

Not  Ascertained .  19  *  30 


Total .  326  360 


Persons  Killed,  by  Groups: 

Passenger .  19  9 

Employe .  138  132 

Otherwise .  169  219 


Total .  326  360 


Location : 

At  crossing  .  52  59 

Not  at  crossing .  274  301 


Total .  326  360 


78 


BETTER  BE  SAFE' THAN  SORRY 


STREET  RAILWAY  ACCIDENTS. 
Table  No.  42. 


Cause  of  Death:  1912  1913 

Crossing  Tracks  at  Crossing.  45  18 

Crossing  Tracks  not  at  Cross¬ 
ing  .  54  23 

Crushed  between  Cars .  10  9 

Collision .  14  9 

Fall  from  Car .  16  12 

Getting  on  or  off .  8  3 

Hitching .  2 

Leaning  out  of  Car .  3  ... 

'  Vehicle  Struck  by  Car .  14  16 

Walking  on  Track .  6  7 

Run  Down  by  Train .  37  60 

Not  Ascertained .  2  6 


Total .  209  165 

Location: 

At  Street  Crossing .  71  66 

Not  at  Crossing .  138  99 


Total .  209  165 


Persons  Killed,  by  Groups: 

Passenger .  28  14 

Employe .  16  14 

Otherwise .  165  137 


Total .  209  165 


ELEVATED  RAILWAY  ACCIDENTS. 


Table  No.  43. 

Cause  of  Death: 

Electrocuted .  1 

Fell  off  platform .  2  2 

Crushed  between  car  and 

platform .  1  1 

Collision .  1  .  .  . 

Run  down  by  train .  11  10 

Walking  on  track .  2  1 


Total .  17  18 

Location : 

On  elevation .  11  8 

On  ground .  6  0 


Total .  17  18 

Persons  Killed,  by  Groups: 

Employe .  8  9 

Otherwise .  9  9 


Total .  17  18 


INDUSTRIAL  ACCIDENTS. 
Table  No.  44. 

Sex: 

Male .  243  231 

Female .  8  7 


238 


Table  No.  45. 


Race: 

1912 

1913 

White . 

.  247 

236 

Colored . 

.  4 

2 

Total . 

.  251 

238 

Table  No.  46. 

Civil  Condition: 

Married . 

158 

129 

Single . 

81 

94 

Widower . 

8 

10 

Widow . . 

1 

Divorced . 

2 

Not  Ascertained . 

3 

3 

Total . 

251 

238 

Table  No.  47. 

Ages: 

Under  10  years . 

3 

7 

10  to  20  years . 

17 

14 

20  to  30  years . 

63 

61 

30  to  40  years . 

74 

56 

40  to  50  years . 

38 

40 

50  to  60  years . 

34 

34 

60  to  70  years . 

10 

9 

70  to  80  years . 

3 

3 

Not  Ascertained . 

9 

14 

Total . 

251 

238 

Table  No.  48. 


Cause  of  Death: 

Suffocated  by  Gases .  11  .  . . 

Burned  by  Metal .  1  4 

Scalded  by  Hot  Water .  11  7 

Killed  in  Elevator .  17  21 

Caught  in  Machinery . ^  18  28 

Building  Collapse .  2 

Electrocution .  14  15 

Explosion .  17  16 

Struck  by  Falling  Objects. .  .  37  49 

Falling  Down  Elevator  Shaft.  23  12 

Off  his  own  wagon .  40  36 

Down  ladder  .  13  10 

In  culvert .  2 

From  airship .  3  3 

From  telephone  pole .  1  ... 

Off  scaffold .  30  25 

Through  skylight .  1 

From  building .  6  ... 

From  roof .  3  ... 

From  bridge .  1  ... 

Out  of  window .  1  ... 

Smothered  in  smokestack ...  1  ... 

In  glucose  car .  1  ... 

In  bin .  2  ... 

Kicked  by  horse .  7 


Total 


251 


Total 


251  238 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


79 


Table  No.  49. 

Nativity: 

1912 

1913 

Nativity: 

1912 

1913 

Hungarians . 

T  ri  sh  . . 

.  6 

.  16 

9 

8 

Americans . 

.  75 

98 

Italians . 

.  7 

10 

Austrians , 

.  23 

16 

Norwegians . 

.  11 

2 

Africans .  . 

1 

Palestine . 

1 

Belgians.  . 

.  2 

•  •  • 

Polish . 

.  11 

7 

Bohemians 

.  12 

3 

Roumanians . 

2 

2 

Bulgarians . 

1 

Russians . 

.  23 

23 

Canadians . 

.  1 

5 

Scotch . 

.  3 

Danes .... 

.  3 

1 

Swedes . 

.  11 

8 

English .  . .  , 

.  2 

4 

Turks . 

.  1 

French .  .  .  . 

.  4 

«  •  • 

Not  Ascertained . 

.  6 

3 

Germans. . . 

.  27 

34 

Greeks.  .  .  . 

.  3 

2 

Total . 

.  251 

238 

Hollanders . 

.  2 

•  •  • 

PRINCIPAL  OCCUPATIONS 

IN  ALPHABETICAL 

ORDER. 

To  get  at  a  glance  the  true  order  and  proportion  of  the  hazard  of  occu¬ 
pations  as  related  to  each  other,  see  numerical  and  percentage  tables 


Nos.  53  and  54. 

Occupation 

Table  No.  50. 

Census  for  Cook 
County 

No.  Cases  per 
Occupation 

Inquests  per 
1,000  Each 
Occupation 

Actor . 

.  2,000 

1912 

5 

1913 

12 

1913 

6.0  per  M 

Actress . 

.  3,000 

6 

2 

1.5 

a 

Advertiser . 

.  4,200 

1 

2 

.47 

« 

Agent . 

.  26,000 

24 

28 

1.08 

Architect . 

.  750 

1 

1 

1.33 

tf 

Artist . 

.  1,400 

3 

1 

.71 

u 

Acrobat . 

.  180 

1 

5.55 

u 

Aviator . 

.  150 

3 

2 

13.33 

u 

Baker . 

.  13,000 

14 

13 

1.0 

u 

Barber . 

.  .  .  _ _  9,600 

27 

20 

2.07 

u 

Bartender . 

.  12,000 

29 

30 

2.5 

a 

Baseball  Player . 

.  1,200 

1 

.83 

a 

Blacksmith . . 

.  6,500 

23 

31 

4.71 

u 

Bookbinder . 

.  10.000 

5 

1 

.1 

u 

Bookkeeper . 

.  25,000 

26 

23 

.92 

a 

Bootblack . 

.  2,500 

1 

.4 

a 

Boxmaker . 

.  4,800 

3 

2 

.41 

a 

Brakeman . 

.  3,000 

14 

9 

3.0 

a 

Bricklayer . 

.  12,000 

20 

26 

2.16 

tt 

Brickmaker . 

. .  .  4,500 

6 

1.33 

u 

Breweryman . 

.  3,000 

9 

4 

1.33 

u 

Broker . 

.  6,000 

13 

6 

1.0 

u 

Broommaker . 

.  3,600 

3 

2 

.55 

tf 

Butcher . 

.  16,000 

24 

32 

2.0 

a 

Buyer . 

.  5,200 

1 

5 

.96 

u 

Bellhop . 

.  2,200 

•  • 

1 

.45 

a 

Boilermaker . 

.  5,500 

2 

5 

.9 

a 

Cab  Driver . 

.  1,800 

6 

1 

•03 

tf 

Cabinetmaker . 

.  6,600 

9 

14 

2.12 

a 

Candymaker . 

.  12,000 

2 

4 

.33 

H 

Car  Cleaner . 

.  2,100 

3 

1.43 

U 

Car  Inspector . 

.  1,400 

6 

4.28 

u 

Car  Repairer . 

.  16,000 

8 

16 

1.0 

Carpenter . . 

.  24,000 

88 

89 

3.7 

a 

Chauffeur . 

.  4,600 

13 

11 

2.6 

tt 

Chemist . 

.  1,100 

1 

1 

.9 

tt 

Cigarmaker . 

.  12,000 

10 

12 

1.0 

tt 

City  Fireman . 

.  1,852 

6 

2 

1.11 

m 

Civil  Engineer . 

.  800 

1 

1 

1.25 

tt 

Clerk . 

.  96,000 

145 

133 

1.37 

tt 

Coal  Dealer . 

.  3,400 

3 

4 

1.17 

tt 

Collector . 

.  5,2(X) 

6 

8 

1.53 

tt 

Conductor . 

.  14,000 

19 

15 

1.07 

tt 

Contractor . 

. •  2,800 

5 

10 

3.57 

M 

Cook . 

.  18,000 

35 

•  37 

2.05 

tt 

Cooper . 

.  9,000 

8 

5 

.55 

« 

80 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


1912 

1913 

1913 

Cornicemaker . 

.  2,100 

•  • 

1 

.47 

per  M 

Custodian . 

.  820 

•  • 

1 

1.25 

U 

Craneman . 

.  570 

•  • 

2 

3.62 

U 

Dentist . 

.  3,200 

2 

1 

.31 

u 

Designer . 

.  1,400 

2 

2 

1.42 

u 

Detective . 

.  1,250 

3 

2.5 

u 

Domestic . 

.  36,000 

80 

59 

1.64 

u 

Draftsman . 

.  2,200 

3 

4 

1.82 

u 

Dressmaker . 

.  18,000 

13 

11 

.61 

a 

Druggist . 

.  16,000 

2 

3 

.18 

u 

Dyer . . 

.  940 

5 

2 

2.22 

M 

Decorator . 

.  2,800 

•  • 

4 

1.43 

U 

Dredger . 

.  600 

•  • 

1 

1.66 

tf 

Electrician . 

.  8,000 

15 

17 

2.12 

u 

Elevator  Conductor . 

.  5,900 

11 

18 

3.05 

u 

Engineer . 

.  16,000 

33 

36 

2.25 

Engraver . 

.  1,500 

2 

1.33 

u 

Factory  Hand . 

.  22,000 

28 

36 

1.63 

u 

Farmer . 

.  24,000 

36 

35 

1.46 

u 

Fireman . 

.  12,000 

16 

26 

2.17 

u 

Fisherman . 

.  2,200 

2 

3 

1.36 

u 

Flagman . 

.  2,100 

7 

5 

2.38 

u 

Florist . 

.  1,600 

3 

1 

.63 

a 

Foreman . 

.  3,200 

15 

19 

5.94 

u 

Finisher . 

.  2,600 

•  • 

1 

.38 

u 

Gardener . 

.  8,000 

4 

5 

.63 

a 

Gasfitter . 

.  2,100 

2 

1 

.48 

a 

Glassworker . 

.  2,100 

4 

3 

1.43 

a 

Grocer . 

.  18,000 

9 

7 

.39 

a 

Guard . 

.  1,800 

1 

2 

1.11 

a 

Glovemaker . 

.  1,600 

•  • 

1 

.62 

u 

Harnessmaker . 

.  1,900 

1 

3 

1.53 

a 

Hatter . 

.  2,000 

1 

1 

.5 

a 

Hodcarrier . 

.  4,200 

8 

5  ^ 

1.19 

a 

Hostler . 

.  2,600 

5 

13 

5.0 

u 

Housekeeper . 

.  36,000 

90 

70 

1.95 

u 

Housewife . 

. 420,000 

531 

441 

1.05 

u 

Hotel  Man . 

.  3,200 

1 

.31 

a 

Inspector . 

.  2,600 

ii 

6 

2.4 

u 

Insurance  Adjuster . 

.  420 

5 

1 

2.5 

u 

Inventor . 

.  800 

2 

2.5 

tt 

Ironworker . 

.  21,000 

20 

28 

1.33 

a 

Janitor . 

.  14,000 

38 

40 

2.85 

a 

Jani  tress . 

.  2,500 

7 

2.8 

a 

Jeweler . 

.  7,200 

2 

10 

1.3 

u 

Junk  Dealer . 

.  2,300 

3 

1.5 

u 

Laborer . 

. 180,000 

800 

834 

4.63 

u 

Laundryman . 

.  12,000 

4 

4 

.33 

u 

Laundress . 

.  8,200 

11 

14 

1.8 

u 

Lawyer . 

.  7,800 

6 

6 

.77 

u 

Lineman . 

.  3,600 

3 

11 

3.05 

a 

Lithographer . 

.  1,250 

2 

1.6 

u 

Liveryman . 

.  1,600, 

1 

3 

1.87 

u 

Locksmith . 

.  850 

1 

1 

1.25 

u 

Machinist . 

.  28,000 

55 

86 

3.07 

u 

Mail  Carrier . 

.  2,069 

7 

3 

1.5 

u 

Manager . 

.  4,200 

8 

9 

2.14 

a 

Manufacturer . 

.  4,200 

14 

11 

2.62 

u 

Merchant . 

.  34,000 

42 

31 

.91 

u 

Messenger . 

.  5,200 

8 

13 

2.5 

u 

Midwife . 

.  1,250 

1 

1 

.83 

u 

Milk  Dealer . 

.  1,800 

1 

3 

1.67 

u 

Miller . 

.  1,900 

4 

1 

.53 

u 

Milliner . 

.  3,200 

1 

2 

.62 

a 

Minister . 

.  1,700 

2 

1 

.58 

a 

Molder . 

.  8,400 

18 

18 

2.14 

a 

Motorman . 

.  9,600 

9 

16 

1.66 

tt 

Musician . 

.  3,000 

13 

8 

2.66 

tt 

Motorcyclist . 

.  1,400 

1 

1 

.42 

tt 

Miner . 

.  400 

2 

5.0 

tt 

Newsboy . 

.  1,500 

1 

.66 

tt 

Newspaperman . 

.  2,400 

2 

2 

.83 

tt 

Infants . 

.  65,000 

•  • 

473 

7.27 

tt 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


81 


Nurse . 

.  4,200 

1912 

15 

1913 

4 

1913 

.95  per  ' 

Oiler . 

.  800 

•  • 

5 

6.25 

U 

Operator . 

.  9,200 

8 

2 

.22 

tt 

Optician . 

.  2,000 

4 

2.0 

u 

Painter . 

.  15,000 

63 

66 

4.4 

u 

m 

Paperhanger . 

.  2,500 

5 

3 

1.2 

u 

Patternmaker . 

.  800 

3 

3.75 

u 

Peddler . 

.  5,000 

26 

22 

4.4 

a 

Photographer . 

.  3,200 

5 

1.56 

tt 

Physician . 

.  8,000 

4 

12 

1.5 

tt 

Plasterer . 

.  2,600 

5 

8 

3.07 

tt 

Plumber . 

.  6,400 

10 

8 

1.25 

tt 

Police  Officer . 

.  3,920 

12 

20 

5.13 

tt 

Porter . 

.  6,200 

56 

62 

10.0 

tf 

Promoter . 

.  1,200  - 

1 

3 

2.5 

tt 

Printer . 

.  15,000 

12 

29 

1.93 

tt 

Prostitute . - . 

.  950 

3 

1 

1.05 

tt 

Publisher . 

.  1,200 

3 

1 

.83 

tt 

Packer . 

.  9,000 

4 

9 

1.0 

tt 

Poster . 

.  2,000 

1 

. , 

.5 

M 

Polisher . 

.  2,100 

•  • 

5 

2.38 

tt 

Pilot . 

.  300 

•  • 

2 

6.66 

tt 

Ragpicker . 

.  800 

1 

1.25 

tt 

R.  Guard . 

.  430 

4 

1 

2.5 

tf 

Real  Estate  Dealer . .  .  .  , 

.  4,200 

17 

15 

3.57 

tt 

Restaurant  Keeper. . . 

.  5,500 

4 

9 

2.57 

tt 

Roofer . .  .  , 

.  1,200 

5 

8 

6.66 

tt 

Rodman . 

.  800 

1 

•  • 

1.25 

tt 

Sailor . 

.  2,100 

11 

12 

5.71 

tt 

Saleslady . 

.  14,000 

3 

3 

.21 

tt 

Salesman . 

.  74,000 

48 

59 

.79 

tt 

Saloonkeeper . 

.  8,200 

22 

26 

3.17 

tt 

Schoolboy . 

. 160,000 

109 

106 

.66 

tt 

Schoolgirl . 

. 170,000 

42 

31 

.18 

tt 

School  Teacher. .  . . 

.  8,100 

5 

10 

1.23 

tt 

Secretary . . 

.  2,600 

3 

1 

.38 

tt 

Shoemaker . 

.  14,000 

16 

14 

1.0 

tt 

Shop  Girl . 

.  14,000 

6 

•  • 

.43 

tt 

Shop  Boy . 

.  11,000 

•  • 

5 

.45 

tt 

Signwriter . . 

.  1,100 

•  • 

1 

.9 

tt 

Soldier . 

.  2,400 

1 

•  • 

.41 

tt 

Solicitor . 

.  6,500 

4 

6 

.92 

tt 

Stagehand . 

.  950 

1 

1 

.95 

tt 

Steamfitter . 

.  6,800 

15 

12 

1.76 

tt 

Stenographer . 

.  17,000 

5 

5 

.29 

tf 

Stonecutter . 

.  2,600 

7 

6 

2.5 

tf 

Student . 

.  16,000 

3 

5 

.31 

tt 

Superintendent . 

.  2,800 

2 

4 

1.42 

tf 

Switchman . 

.  4,200 

43 

67 

15.93 

tf 

Steeplejack . 

.  100 

•  • 

2 

20.0 

tf 

Tender . 

.  1,200 

•  • 

1 

8.33 

tt 

Tailor . 

.  23,000 

45 

46 

2.0 

tt 

Tailoress . . 

.  12,000 

5 

8 

.66 

tt 

Tanner . 

.  9,500 

8 

2 

.22 

tf 

Teamster . 

.  19,500 

141 

156 

8.0 

tt 

Telegraph  Operator . 

.  5,500 

3 

10 

1.82 

tf 

Ticket  Broker . 

.  1,100 

. 

3  ' 

2.72 

tf 

Tinsmith . 

.  2,100 

9 

3 

1.42 

M 

Trackman . 

.  1,850 

2 

1 

.55 

tf 

Traveling  Salesman . 

.  8,600 

3 

1 

.12 

tf 

Towerman . 

.  1,200 

•  • 

5 

4.16 

tf 

Trimmer . 

.  650 

•  • 

1 

1.66 

M 

Undertaker.  . . 

.  2,400 

1 

2 

.83 

tf 

Upholsterer . 

.  2,400 

1 

4 

1.66 

tf 

Valet . 

.  1,250 

•  • 

1 

.83 

tf 

Wagon  Boy . 

.  600 

•  • 

1 

1.66 

tf 

Wagonmaker . 

.  6,300 

2 

1 

.16 

tf 

Waiter . 

.  8,000 

23 

24 

3.0 

tf 

Waitress . 

.  3,000 

5 

11 

3.66 

tt 

Watchman . 

.  4,200 

48 

52 

12.35 

tf 

Window  Washer . 

.  900 

1 

6 

6.66 

tf 

Woodworker . 

.  2,700 

14 

4 

1.48 

• 

Wrecker . 

.  1,450 

1 

.71 

• 

Y  ardmaster . 

.  410 

i 

3 

7.6 

« 

82 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


^  .JEW 


*  ■■?'.  -■' 


?V.  %sy>'.  .V>X<vJ«V;'^ 


-Iwl:  .c'K> 


“Stop.  Look  and  Listen.” 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


83 


V 


Department  of  Numerical  Tables 

▼  T 

Classified  in  Order  of  Number  and  Percentage 

The  introduction  of  a  general  department  of  numerical  tables  into 
he  report  of  Coroner’s  cases  is  for  the  especial  purpose  of  showing  at  a 
glance  the  order  and  relationship  which  the  number  of  sudden  and  violent 
deaths  from  every  cause  bear  toward  each  other,  for  to  profit  by  this  report 
it  is  first  essential  that  each  item  and  division  should  be  thought  of  in  its 
true  order  and  proportion. 

The  following  arrangements  showing  the  number  of  deaths  in  numer¬ 
ical  order  as  to  methods,  as  to  ages  at  which  deaths  occur,  as  to  the  occu¬ 
pations,  the  causes  of  death,  nationality,  individual  or  social  responsi¬ 
bility,  etc.,  is  for  the  purpose  of  showing  at  a  glance  to  legislators,  students, 
social  workers,  teachers,  parents  and  pupils  just  what  the  order  of  hazard 
is  from  every  point  of  view,  which,  together  with  the  classification  of  cause, 
supplies  the  key  for  remedy  and  prevention. 

In  the  following  tables  the  claim  for  strict  accuracy  in  each  case  can¬ 
not  be  made,  this  being  impossible  the  first  year.  However,  the  figures 
as  they  are,  serve  to  point  out  the  general  truths  involved,  and  they  form 
a  basis  upon  which  to  build  in  the  future,  so  that  with  improved  facilities, 
more  complete  reports  and  a  general  outline  established,  our  tables  should 
become  thoroughly  dep.endable  in  from  three  to  five  years. 

Table  No.  51. 

INQUESTS  IN  NUMERICAL  ORDER  BY  MONTHS. 


1912 

1913 

1. 

July . 

.  393 

1. 

July . 

.  412 

2. 

January . 

.  387 

2. 

December . 

.  410 

3. 

May . 

.  370 

3. 

June . 

.  393 

4. 

September . 

.  359 

4. 

March . 

.  380 

5. 

October . 

.  352 

5. 

May . 

.  368 

6. 

June . 

.  350 

6. 

September . 

.  366 

7. 

March . 

.  347 

7. 

February . 

.  350 

8. 

December . 

.  342 

8. 

April . 

.  350 

9. 

November . 

.  337 

9. 

August . 

.  348 

10. 

February . 

.  335 

10. 

October . 

.  347 

11. 

August . 

.  330 

11. 

January . 

.  321 

12. 

April . 

.  324 

12. 

November . 

.  329 

Total . 

. 4,226 

Total . 

. 4,385 

A  tabulated  numerical  record  of  the  number  of  inquests  per  month 
for  the  past  ten  years  does  not  seem  to  show  that  sudden  and  violent  deaths 
are  any  more  liable  to  occur  one  month  than  another,  excepting  the  one 
general  fact  that  Coroner’s  cases  increase  largely  during  extremely  hot  and 
extremely  cold  weather.  A  cold  December  will  place  that  month  ahead 
on  the  list,  whereas  a  cold  January  or  February  will  do  the  same  for  those 
months.  On  the  other  hand,  a  very  warm  July  or  August  will  place  those 
months  at  the  head  of  the  list.  From  the  above  table  it  is  seen  that  July 
was  in  the  lead  in  both  1912  and  1913.  January  took  second  place  in  1912 
and  December  second  place  in  1913,  and  an  inquiry  into  the  weather 
conditions  will  show  that  these  were  the  extreme  months  of  the  year,  the 


84 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


warm  January  of  1913  having  dropped  that  month  to  the  bottom  of  the 
column,  showing  most  conclusively  that  it  is  not  the  arbitrary  divisions 
of  the  months,  but  the  character  of  the  weather,  the  temperature,  etc., 
that  has  to  do  with  the  monthly  fluctuations  of  Coroner’s  cases. 


Table  No.  52. 

INQUESTS  IN  NUMERICAL  ORDER  BY  AGES. 


1912 

1.  30  to  40  years .  838 

2.  20  to  30  years .  747 

3.  40  to  50  years . . .  744 

4.  50  to  60  years .  661 

5.  Under  10  years .  364 

6.  60  to  70  years .  360 

7.  10  to  20  years .  257 

8.  70  to  80  years .  123 

9.  Over  80  years .  45 

10.  Not  ascertained .  87 


Total . 4,226 


1913 

1.  40  to  50  years .  882 

2.  30  to  40  years .  845 

3.  20  to  30  years .  768 

4.  50  to  60  years .  648 

5.  Under  10  years .  404 

6.  60  to  70  years .  343 

7.  10  to  20  years .  238 

8.  70  to  80  years .  129 

9.  Over  80  years .  34 

10,  Not  ascertained .  94 


Total . . 4,385 


The  above  tabulation  in  numerical  order  on  the  basis  of  age  exhibits 
a  degree  of  uniformity,  the  greatest  loss  of  life  being  at  the  bread- winning 
ages  between  20  and  50.  In  both  1912  and  1913,  those  under  10  years  of 
age  are  fifth  in  the  list,  the  remainder  of  the  tables  following  the  same 
same  order  for  both  years.  While  those  in  the  decade  between  40  and  50 
occupy  first  place  in  1913,  they  are  third  in  1912,  and  whereas  the  30  to 
40  group  come  second  in  1913  they  are  first  in  1912,  and  the  records  of 
former  years  seem  to  bear  out  the  conclusion  that  the  greatest  losses  from 
sudden  and  violent  deaths,  accidental  and  otherwise,  occur  in  the  most 
active  period  of  life  between  30  and  40,  and  the  far  greater  proportion  of 
men  over  women  shown  in  the  accompanying  table  is  clearly  the  result 
of  the  greater  risk  to  men  on  account  of  their  out-of-door  and  industrial 
activity  as  compared  with  the  in-door  life  of  women.  In  both  1912  and 
1913  the  epoch  from  50  to  60  years  occupies  fourth  place,  which  is  practi¬ 
cally  its  uniform  position  in  past  years. 


Table  No.  53. 

THE  HAZARD  OF  OCCUPATION  IN  NUMERICAL  ORDER  FOR  1913  ONLY. 


Census  for 

Inquests 

Inquests  per 

Occupation 

Cook 

per 

1,000  of  Each 

County 

Occupation 

Occupation 

1. 

Laborer . . 

. 180,000 

834 

4.63 

per  M. 

2. 

Infants . . 

.  65,000 

473 

7.27 

U 

3. 

Housewife . 

. 420,000 

441 

1.05 

u 

4. 

Teamster . 

.  19,500 

156 

8.0 

u 

5. 

Clerk . 

.  96,000 

133 

1.37 

a 

6. 

Schoolboy . 

. 160,000 

106 

.66 

u 

7. 

Carpenter . 

.  24,000 

89 

3.7 

a 

8. 

Machinist . 

.  28,000 

86 

3.07 

u 

9. 

Housekeeper . 

.  36,000 

70 

1.95 

a 

10. 

Switchman . 

.  4,200 

67 

15.93 

u 

11. 

Painter . 

.  15,000 

66 

4.4 

u 

12. 

Porter . 

.  6,200 

62 

10.0 

tt 

13. 

Domestic . 

.  36,000 

59 

1.64 

a 

14. 

Salesman . 

.  74,000 

59 

.79 

u 

15. 

Watchman . 

.  4,200 

52 

12.35 

u 

16. 

Tailor . 

.  23,000 

46 

2.0 

u 

17. 

Janitor . 

.  14,000 

40 

2.85 

m 

18. 

Factory  Hand . . . . . . 

.  22,000 

36 

1.63 

a 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


85 


Census  for  Inquests  Inquests  per 
Occupation  Cook  per  1,000  of  Each 

County  Occupation  Occupation. 


19. 

Engineer . 

.  16,000 

36 

2.25 

per  M 

20. 

Farmer . 

.  24,000 

35 

1.46 

U 

21. 

Butcher . . 

.  16,000 

32 

2.0 

u 

22. 

Blacksmith . 

.  6,500 

31 

4.71 

m 

23. 

Merchant . 

.  34,000 

31 

.91 

a 

24. 

Schoolgirl . 

. 170,000 

31 

.18 

m 

25. 

Bartender . 

.  12,000 

30 

2.5 

« 

26. 

Printer . 

.  15,000 

29 

1.93 

« 

27. 

Agent . 

.  26,000 

28 

1.08 

a 

28. 

Bricklayer . 

.  12,000 

26 

2.16 

a 

29. 

Saloonkeeper . 

.  8,200 

26 

3.17 

u 

30. 

Waiter . 

.  8,000 

24 

3.0 

H 

31. 

Bookkeeper . 

.  25,000 

23 

.92 

U 

32. 

Peddler . 

.  5,000 

22 

4.4 

u 

33. 

Barber. .- . 

.  9,600 

20  , 

2.07 

a 

34. 

Police  Officer . 

.  3,920 

20 

5.13 

u 

35. 

Foreman . 

.  3,200 

19 

5.94 

u 

36. 

Elevator  Conductor . 

.  5,900 

18 

3.05 

« 

37. 

Holder . . . 

.  8,400 

18 

2.14 

u 

38. 

Electrician . 

.  8,000 

17 

2.12 

m 

39. 

Car  Repairer . 

.  16,000 

16 

1.0 

u 

40. 

Motorman . 

.  9,600 

16 

1.66 

u 

41. 

Conductor . 

.  14,000 

15 

1.07 

u 

42. 

Real  Estate  Dealer . 

.  4,200 

15 

3.57 

a 

43. 

Cabinetmaker . 

.  6,600 

14 

2.12 

u 

44. 

Laundress . 

.  8,200 

14 

1.8  . 

a 

45. 

Shoemaker . 

.  14,000 

14 

1.0 

u 

46. 

Baker . 

.  13,000 

-  13 

1.0 

m 

47. 

Hostler . 

.  2,600 

13 

5.0 

m 

48. 

Messenger . 

.  5,200 

13 

2.5 

a 

49. 

Actor . 

.  2,000 

12 

6.0 

50. 

Cigarmaker . 

.  12,000 

12 

1. 

« 

51. 

Physician . 

.  8,000 

12 

1.5 

52. 

Sailor . 

.  2,100 

12 

5.71 

u 

53. 

Steamfitter . 

.  6,800 

12 

1.76 

m 

54. 

Chauffeur  . 

.  4,600 

11 

2.6 

a 

55. 

Dressmaker . 

. -18,000 

11 

.61 

u 

56. 

Lineman . 

.  3,600 

11 

3.05 

u 

57. 

Manufacturer . 

.  4,200 

11 

2.62 

u 

58. 

Waitress . t . 

.  3,000 

11 

3.66 

a 

59. 

Contractor . 

.  2,800 

10 

3.57 

u 

60. 

School  Teacher . 

.  8,100 

10 

1.23 

H 

61. 

Telegraph  Operator . 

.  5,500 

10 

1.82 

U 

62. 

Brakeman . 

.  3,000 

9 

3. 

« 

63. 

Manager . 

.  4,200 

9 

2.14 

U 

64. 

Packer . 

.  9,000 

'  9 

1. 

u 

65. 

Restaurant  Keeper . 

.  5,500 

9 

2.57 

u 

66. 

Collector . 

.  5,200 

8 

1.53 

u 

67. 

Musician . 

.  3,000 

8 

2.66 

« 

68. 

Plasterer . 

.  2,600 

8 

3.07 

u 

69. 

Plumber . 

.  6,400 

8 

1.25 

« 

70. 

Roofer . 

.  1,200 

8 

6.66 

u 

71. 

Tailoress . 

.  12,000 

8 

.66 

u 

72. 

Grocer . 

.  18,000 

7 

.39 

tf 

73. 

Janitress . 

.  2,500 

7 

2.8 

u 

74. 

Broker . 

.  6,000 

6 

1. 

tf 

75. 

Inspector . 

.  2,600 

6 

2.4 

41 

76. 

Lawyer . 

.  7,800 

6 

.77 

<4 

77. 

Solicitor . 

.  6,500 

6 

.92 

u 

78. 

Stonecutter . 

.  2,600 

6 

2.5 

u 

79. 

Window  Washer . 

.  900 

6 

6.66 

44 

80. 

Buyer . 

.  5,200 

5 

.96 

44 

81. 

Boilermaker . 

.  5,500 

5 

.9 

« 

82. 

Cooper . 

.  9,000 

5 

.55 

44 

83. 

Flagman . 

.  2,100 

5 

2.38 

44 

84. 

Gardener . 

.  8,000 

5 

.63 

44 

85. 

Hodcarrier . 

.  4,200 

5 

1.19 

44 

83. 

Oiler . 

.  800 

5 

6.25 

41 

87. 

Photographer . 

.  3,200 

5 

1.56 

a 

88, 

Polisher . . . . . . . 

5 

2.38 

a 

86 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Occupation 


Census  for  Inquests  Inquests  per 
Cook  per  1,000  of  each 

County  Occupation  Occupation 


89. 

Shop  Boy . 

5 

.45 

per  M 

90. 

Stenographer . 

.  17,000 

5 

.29 

a 

91. 

Student . 

.  16,000 

5 

.31 

a 

92. 

Towerman . 

.  1,200 

5 

4.16 

a 

93. 

Breweryman . 

.  3,000 

4 

1.33 

u 

94. 

Candymaker . 

.  12,000 

4 

.33 

u 

95. 

Coal  Dealer . 

.  3,400 

4 

1.17 

u 

96. 

Draftsman . 

.  2,200 

4 

1.82 

u 

97. 

Decorator . 

.  2,800 

4 

1.43 

u 

98. 

Laundryman . 

.  12,000 

4 

.33 

u 

99. 

Nurse . . . 

.  4,200 

4 

.95 

u 

100. 

Optician . 

.  2,000 

4 

2. 

u 

101. 

Superintendent . 

.  2,800 

4 

1.42 

u 

102. 

Upholsterer . 

.  2,400 

4 

1.66 

u 

103. 

Woodworker . 

.  2,700 

4 

1.48 

u 

104. 

Detective . 

.  1,250 

3 

2.5 

u 

105. 

Druggist . 

.  16,000 

3 

.18 

a 

106. 

Fisherman . 

.  2,200 

3 

1.36 

u 

107. 

Glassworker . 

.  2,100 

3 

1.43 

u 

108. 

Harnessmaker . 

.  1,900 

3 

1.58 

u 

109. 

Junk  Dealer . 

.  2,300 

3 

1.5 

u 

no. 

Liveryman . 

.  1,600 

3 

1.87 

u 

111. 

Mail  Carrier . 

.  2,069 

3 

1.5 

a 

112. 

Milk  Dealer . 

.  1,800 

3 

1.67 

a 

113. 

Paperhanger.- . 

.  2,500 

3 

1.2 

u 

114. 

Patternmaker . 

.  800 

3 

3.75 

u 

115. 

Promoter . 

.  1,200 

3 

2.5 

u 

116. 

Saleslady . 

.  14,000 

3 

.21 

u 

117. 

Ticket  Broker . 

.  1,100 

3 

2.72 

u 

118. 

Tinsmith . 

.  2,100 

3 

1.42 

u 

119. 

Yardmaster . 

.  410 

3 

7.5 

u 

120. 

Actress . 

.  3,000 

2 

1.5 

a 

121. 

Advertiser . 

.  4,200 

2  . 

.47 

« 

122. 

Aviator . . 

.  150 

2 

13.33 

a 

123. 

Boxmaker . 

.  4,800 

2 

.41 

H 

124. 

Broom  Maker . 

.  3,600 

2 

.55 

U 

125. 

City  Fireman . 

.  1,852 

2 

1.11 

u 

126. 

Craneman . 

.  570 

2 

3.62 

a 

127. 

Designer . 

.  1,400 

2 

1.42 

a 

128. 

Dyer . 

.  940 

2 

2.22 

u 

129. 

Engraver . 

.  1,500 

2 

1.33 

u 

130. 

Guard . 

.  1,800 

2 

1.11 

u 

131. 

Inventor . 

.  800 

2 

2.5 

u 

132. 

Milhner . 

.  3,200 

.  2 

.62 

u 

133. 

Miner . 

.  400 

2 

5. 

u 

134. 

Newspaperman . 

.  2,400 

2 

.83 

u 

135. 

Operator . 

.  9,200 

2 

.22 

a 

136. 

Pilot . 

.  300 

2 

6.66 

u 

137. 

Steeplejack . 

.  100 

2 

20. 

u 

138. 

Tanner . 

. .  .  9,500 

2 

.22 

a 

139. 

Undertaker . 

.  2,400 

2 

.83 

a 

140. 

Architect . 

.  750 

1 

1.33 

u 

141. 

Artist . 

.  1,400 

1 

.71 

a 

142. 

Acrobat . 

.  180 

1 

5.55 

u 

143. 

Bookbinder . 

.  10,000 

1 

.1 

u 

144. 

Bootblack . 

. .  2,500 

1 

.4 

« 

145. 

Bellhop . 

.  2,200 

1 

.45 

u 

146. 

Cab  Driver . 

.  1,800 

1 

.55 

u 

147. 

Chemist . 

.  1,100 

1 

.9 

u 

148. 

Civil  Engineer . 

.  800 

1 

1.25 

a 

149. 

Cornicemaker . 

.  2,100 

1 

.47 

u 

150. 

Custodian . 

.  820 

1 

1.25 

u 

151. 

Dentist . 

.  3,200 

1 

.31 

u 

152. 

Dredger . 

.  600 

1 

1.66 

a 

153. 

Florist . 

.  1,600 

1 

.63 

« 

154. 

Finisher . 

.  2,600  • 

1 

.38 

u 

155. 

Gasfitter . 

.  2,100 

1 

.48 

u 

156. 

Glovemaker . 

.  1,600 

1 

.62 

u 

157. 

Hatter . 

.  2,000 

1 

.5 

u 

158. 

Hotel  Man . 

.  3,200 

1 

.21 

« 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


87 


Census  for 

Inquests 

Inquests  per 

OccuDation 

Cook 

per 

1,000  of  Each 

County 

Occupation 

Occupation 

159. 

Insurance  Adjuster . 

.  420 

1 

2.5 

per  M, 

160. 

Locksmith . 

.  850 

1 

1.25 

II 

161. 

Midwife . 

.  1,250 

1 

.83 

m 

162. 

Miller . 

.  1,900 

1 

.53 

u 

163. 

Minister . 

. .  1,700 

1 

.58 

u 

164. 

Motorcyclist . 

.  2,400 

1 

.42 

a 

165. 

Newsboy . 

. .  1,500 

1 

.66 

u 

166. 

Prostitute . 

.  950 

1 

1.05 

u 

167. 

Phiblisher  . . 

.  1,200 

1 

.83 

u 

168. 

Ragpicker . 

.  800 

1 

1.25 

tt 

169. 

R.  R.  Guard . 

.  430 

1 

2.5 

u 

170. 

Secretary . 

.  2,600 

1 

.38 

u 

171. 

Signwriter . 

.  1,100 

1 

.9 

u 

172. 

Stagehand . . 

.  950 

1 

.95 

u 

173. 

Tender . 

.  1,200 

1 

8.33 

u 

174. 

Trackman . 

.  1,850 

1 

.55 

u 

175. 

Traveling  Salesman . 

.  8,600 

1 

.12 

a 

176. 

Trimmer . 

.  650 

1 

1.66 

a 

177. 

Valet . 

.  1,250 

1 

.83 

u 

178. 

Wagon  Boy . 

.  600 

1 

1.66 

u 

179. 

Wagonmaker . . 

.  6,300 

1 

.16 

u 

180. 

Wrecker . 

.  1,450 

1 

.71 

u 

THE  HAZARD  OF  OCCUPATIONS. 


The  above  table  shows  at  a  glance  the  number  of  Coroner’s  cases  in 
numerical  order  for  1913  only,  and  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  three 
occupying  first  place,  834  laborers,  473  infants  and  441  housewives,  are 
the  three  most  helpless  divisions,  the  ones  that  are  the  least  responsible 
for  their  surrounding  conditions  of  any  of  the  180  in  the  entire  list.  But 
a  glance  at  this  table  indicates  to  what  extent  social  responsibility  has 
become  an  enormous  factor  in  city  life,  and  that  not  only  economic  con¬ 
ditions  must  be  remedied  for  the  protection  of  laborers,  infants  and  house¬ 
wives,  but  it  is  seen  that  it  is  largely  through  education  in  schools,  homes 
and  the  press  that  this  great  loss  of  life  must  be  stemmed. 

The  occupation  of  teamster  in  fourth  place,  that  of  machinist  eighth 
and  switchman  tenth  in  the  list  point  to  these  as  extra  hazardous  occu¬ 
pations  in  relation  to  which  employers  should  be  stimulated  to  safeguard 
the  employes  to  the  highest  degree.  The  fact  that  school  boys  are  sixth 
in  the  list  should  arouse  our  entire  educational  system  to  co-operate  with 
the  Public  Safety  Commission;  and  while  many  may  be  surprised  that 
clerks  occupy  fifth  place  in  the  list  of  Coroner’s  cases,  a  careful  study  into 
the  causes  whereby  clerks  become  despondent,  stupefied  and  unfit  mentally 
and  physically  to  protect  themselves  against  the  forms  of  violence  which 
land  them  finally  in  the  Coroner’s  hands,  is  a  study  worthy  of  the  closest 
attention  of  publicists  and  students  of  social  psychology. 

The  fact  that  there  were  70  housekeepers,  46  tailors,  35  farmers  and 
31  school  girls  in  the  list  of  Coroner’s  cases  for  1913  does  not  necessarily 
show  that  these  occupations  are  very  much  more  hazardous  than  those  of 
acrobat,  bootblack,  cab  driver,  newsboy  and  traveling  salesman,  these 
being  represented  by  merely  one  each  in  the  year’s  record.  Our  percentage 
table  No.  54  gives  the  exact  relative  standing  of  these  in  accordance  with 
the  population  of  each  occupation. 


88 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Table  No.  54. 

THE  PERCENTAGE  HAZARD  OF  OCCUPATIONS. 


Inquests  per  1,000  in  numerical  order,  based 
1913  only. 


Occupation 


upon  the  census  of  each  occupation,  for 

Census  for  Inquests  Inquest  per 
Cook  per  1,000  of  each 

County  Occupation  Occupation 


1. 

Steeplejack . 

.  100 

2 

20.0 

per  M 

2. 

Switchmen . 

.  4,200 

67 

15.73 

U 

3. 

Aviator . 

• 

.  150 

2 

13.33 

u 

4. 

Watchmen . 

.  4,200 

52 

12.35 

u 

5. 

Porter . 

.  6,200 

62 

10.0 

tt 

6. 

Tender . 

.  1,200 

1 

8.33 

u 

7. 

Teamster . 

.  19,500 

156 

8.0 

a 

8. 

Y  ardmaster . 

. ■.  .  . 

.  410 

3 

7.5 

tt 

9. 

Infants . 

.  65,000 

473 

7.27 

tt 

10. 

Pilot . . 

.  300 

2 

6.66 

tt 

11. 

Roofer . 

.  1,200 

8 

6.66 

tt 

12. 

Window  Washer  . 

.  900 

6 

6.66 

tt 

13. 

Oiler . 

.  800 

5 

6.25 

tt 

14. 

Actor . 

.  2,000 

12 

6.0 

tt 

15. 

Foreman . 

.  3,200 

19 

5.94 

a 

16. 

Sailor . . . 

12 

5.71 

a 

17. 

Acrobat . 

.  180 

1 

5.55 

u 

18. 

Police  Officer . 

.  3,920 

20 

5.13 

u 

19. 

Hostler . 

.  2,600 

13 

5.0 

tt 

20. 

Miner . 

.  400 

2 

5.0 

tt 

21. 

Blacksmith . 

31 

4.71 

tt 

22. 

Laborer . 

. 180,000 

834 

4.63 

tt 

23. 

Car  Inspector . 

.  1,400 

6 

4.28 

tt 

24. 

Towerman . 

.  1,200 

5 

4.16 

tt 

25. 

Painter . 

.  15,000 

66 

4.4 

tt 

26. 

Peddler . 

.  5,000 

22 

4.4 

tt 

27. 

Patternmaker . 

.  800 

3 

3.75 

tt 

28. 

Waitress . 

.  3,000 

11 

3.66 

tt 

29. 

Cranemen . 

.  570 

2 

3.62 

tt 

30. 

Contractor . 

.  2,800 

10 

3.57 

tt 

31. 

Real  Estate  Dealer . 

.  4,200 

15 

3.57 

M 

32. 

Saloonkeeper . 

.  8,200 

26 

3.17 

tt 

33. 

Carpenter . 

.  24,000 

89 

3.7 

tt 

34. 

Machinist . 

.  28,000 

86 

3.07 

tt 

35. 

Plasterer . 

• 

.  2,600 

8 

3.07 

tt 

36. 

Elevator  Conductor .... 

.  5,900 

18 

3.05 

tt 

37. 

Lineman . 

.  3,600 

11 

3.05 

tt 

38. 

Brakeman . 

.  3,000 

9 

3.0 

tt 

39. 

Waiter . 

.  8,000 

24 

3.0 

tt 

40. 

Janitor . 

.  14,000 

40 

2.85 

tt 

41. 

Jani  tress . 

.  2,500 

7 

2.8 

tt 

42. 

Ticket  Broker . 

.  1,100 

3 

2.72 

tt 

43. 

Musician . 

.  3,000 

8 

2.66 

tt 

44. 

Manufacturer . 

.  4,200 

11 

2.62 

tt 

45. 

Chauffeur . 

.  4,600 

11 

2.6 

tt 

46. 

Restaurant  Keeper . 

.  5,500 

9 

2.57 

tt 

47. 

Bartender . 

.  12,000 

30 

2.5 

tt 

48. 

R.  R.  Guard . 

.  430 

1 

2.5 

U 

49. 

Detective . 

.  1,250 

3 

2.5 

tt 

50. 

Stonecutter . 

.  2,600 

6 

2.5 

tt 

51. 

Insurance  Adjuster . 

.  420 

1 

2.5 

tt 

52. 

Inventor . 

.  800 

2 

2.5 

tt 

53. 

Messenger . 

.  5,200 

13 

2.5 

tt 

54. 

Promoter . 

.  1,200 

3 

2.5 

tt 

55. 

Inspector . 

.  2,600 

6 

2.4 

tt 

56. 

Flagman . 

.  2,100 

5 

2.38 

tt 

57. 

Polisher . 

.  2,100 

5 

2.38 

tt 

58. 

Engineer . 

.  16,000 

36 

2.25 

a 

59. 

Dyer . 

.  940 

2 

2.22 

• 

60. 

Fireman . 

.  12,000 

26 

2.17 

* 

61. 

Bricklayer . 

.  12,000 

26 

2.16 

62. 

Molder . .  . 

.  8,400 

18 

2.14 

• 

63. 

Manager . 

- 

.  4,200 

9 

2.14 

m 

64. 

Electrician . 

.  8,000 

17 

2.12 

m 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


89 


Census  for  Inquests  Inquests  per 

Occupation  Cook  per  1,000  of  each 

County  Occupation  Occupation 


65. 

Cabinetmaker . 

.  6,600 

14 

2.12 

per  M 

66. 

Barber . 

.  9,600 

20 

2.07 

U 

67. 

Cook . 

.  18,000 

37 

2.05 

m 

68. 

Butcher . 

.  16,000 

32 

2.0 

m 

69. 

Tailor . 

.  23,000 

46 

2. 

a 

70. 

Optician . 

.  2,000 

4 

2. 

u 

71. 

Housekeeper . 

.  36,000 

70 

1.95 

u 

72. 

Printer . 

.  15,000 

29 

1.93 

u 

73. 

Liveryman . 

.  1,600 

3 

1.87 

u 

74. 

Draftsman . 

.  2,200 

4 

1.82 

u 

75. 

Telegraph  Operator . 

.  5,500 

10 

1.82 

u 

76. 

Laundress . 

.  8,200 

14 

1.8 

u 

77. 

Steamfitter . 

.  6,800 

12 

1.76 

u 

78. 

Milk  Dealer . 

.  1,800 

3 

1.67 

u 

79. 

Dredger . 

.  600 

1 

1.66 

a 

80. 

Motorman . 

.  9,600 

16 

1.66 

a 

81. 

Trimmer . 

.  650 

1 

1.66 

u 

82. 

Wagon  Boy . 

.  600 

1 

1.66 

u 

83. 

Upholsterer . 

.  2,400 

4 

1.66 

u 

84. 

Domestic . 

.  36,000 

59 

1.64 

a 

85. 

Factory  Hand . 

.  22,000 

36 

1.63 

« 

86. 

Lithographer . 

.  1,250 

2 

1.6 

tt 

87. 

Harnessmaker . 

.  1,900 

3 

1.58 

tt 

88. 

Photographer . 

.  3,200 

5 

1.56 

u 

89. 

Collector . 

.  5,200 

8 

1.53 

u 

90. 

Physician . 

.  8,000 

12 

1.5 

(4 

91. 

Actress . . 

.  3,000 

2 

1.5 

tt 

92. 

Junk  Dealer . 

.  2,300 

3 

1.5 

tt 

93. 

Mail  Carrier . 

.  2,069 

3 

1.5 

« 

94. 

Woodworker . 

.  2,700 

4 

1.48 

tt 

95. 

Farmer . 

.  24,000 

35 

1.46 

tt 

96. 

Car  Cleaner . 

.  2,100 

3 

1.43 

tt 

97. 

Glassworker . 

.  2,100 

3 

1.43 

tt 

98. 

Decorator . 

.  2,800 

4 

1.43 

.  “ 

99. 

Designer . 

.  1,400 

2 

1.42 

tf 

100. 

Superintendent . 

.  2,800 

4 

1.42 

tt 

101. 

Tinsmith . 

.  2,100 

3 

1.42 

M 

102. 

Clerk . 

.  96,000 

133 

1.37 

tt 

103. 

Fisherman . 

. •  .  .  .  2,200 

3 

1.36 

tt 

104. 

Brickmaker . 

.  4,500 

6 

1.33 

tt 

105. 

Ironworker . 

.  21,000 

28 

1.33 

tt 

106. 

Architect . 

.  750 

1 

1.33 

tt 

107. 

Breweryman . 

.  3,000 

4 

1.33 

tt 

108. 

Engraver . 

.  1,500 

2 

1.33 

tt 

109. 

Jeweler . 

.  7,200 

10 

1.3 

tt 

110. 

Custodian . 

.  820 

1 

1.25 

tt 

111. 

Civil  Engineer . 

.  800 

1 

1.25 

tt 

112. 

Locksmith . 

.  850 

1 

1.25 

« 

113. 

Plumber . 

.  6,400 

8 

1.25 

tt 

114. 

Ragpicker . 

.  800 

1 

1.25 

tt 

115. 

Rodman . 

.  800 

1 

1  25 

tt 

116. 

School  Teacher . 

.  8,100 

10 

1.23 

tt 

117. 

Paperhanger . 

.  2,500 

3 

1.2 

tt 

118. 

Hodcarrier . 

.  4,200 

5 

1.19 

tt 

119. 

Coal  Dealer . 

.  3,400 

4 

1.17 

tt 

120. 

City  Fireman . 

.  1,852 

2 

1.11 

tt 

121. 

Guard . 

.  1,800 

2 

1.11 

tt 

122. 

Agent . 

.  26,000 

28 

1.08 

tt 

123. 

Conductor . 

. .  14,000 

15 

1.07 

tt 

124. 

Housewife . 

. 420,000 

441 

1.05 

M 

125. 

Prostitute . 

.  950 

1 

1.05 

tt 

126. 

Car  Repairer . 

.  16,000 

16 

1. 

tt 

127. 

Baker . 

.  13,000 

13 

1. 

tt 

128. 

Broker . 

.  6,000 

6 

1. 

tt 

129. 

Cigarmaker .  .  : . 

.  12,000 

12 

1. 

tt 

130. 

Packer . 

.  9,000 

9 

1. 

tt 

131. 

Shoemaker . 

. .  14,000 

14 

1. 

tt 

132. 

Buyer . 

.  5,200 

5 

.96 

tt 

133. 

Stagehand . 

.  950 

1 

.95 

tt 

134. 

Nurse . 

4 

.95 

« 

90 


BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  SORRY 


135. 

Occupation 

Solicitor . 

Census  for 
Cook 
County 

.  6,500 

Inquests 

per 

Occupation 

6 

Inquests  per 
1,000  of  each 
Occupation 

.92  per  M 

136. 

Bookkeeper . 

.  25,000 

23 

.92 

a 

137. 

Merchant . 

.  34,000 

31 

.91 

u 

138. 

Boilermaker . 

.  5,500 

5 

.9 

u 

139. 

Chemist . 

.  1,100 

1 

.9 

u 

140. 

Sign  writer . 

.  1,100 

1 

.9 

u 

141. 

Midwife . . 

.  1,250 

1 

.83 

u 

142. 

Baseball  Player . 

.  1,200 

1 

.83 

u 

143. 

Publisher . 

,  .  .  .  .  1,200 

1 

.83 

u 

144. 

Undertaker . 

2,400 

2 

.83 

u 

145. 

V  alet . 

.  1,250 

1 

.83 

u 

146. 

Salesman . 

.  74,000 

59 

.79 

u 

147. 

Lawyer . 

.  7,800 

6 

.77 

u 

148. 

Wrecker . 

.  1,450 

1 

.71 

u 

149. 

Artist . 

* 

.  1,400 

1 

.71 

u 

150. 

Schoolboy . 

. 160,000 

106 

.66 

u 

151. 

Tailoress . 

.  12,000 

8 

.66 

u 

152. 

Florist . 

.  1,600 

1 

.63 

u 

153. 

Gardener. . . 

_  8,000 

5 

.63 

a 

154. 

Glovemaker . 

_  1,600 

1 

.62 

a 

155. 

Milliner . 

_  3,200 

2 

.62 

a 

156. 

Dressmaker . 

....  18,000 

11 

.61 

tt 

157. 

Minister . 

.  1,700 

1 

.58 

u 

158. 

Trackman . 

_  1,850 

1 

.55 

u 

159. 

Cab  Driver . 

_  1,800 

1 

.55 

tf 

160. 

Broom  Maker . 

_  3,600 

2 

.55 

u 

161. 

Cooper . 

_ •  9,000 

5 

.55 

u 

162. 

Miller . 

....  1,900  . 

1 

.53 

u 

163. 

Hatter . 

_  2,000 

1 

.5 

u 

164. 

Poster . 

....  2,000 

1 

.5 

a 

165. 

Gasfitter . 

.  .  2,100 

1 

.48 

u 

166. 

Cornicemaker . 

....  2,100 

1 

.47 

u 

167. 

Advertiser . 

_  4,200 

2 

.47 

u 

168. 

Bellhop . 

_  2,200 

1- 

.45 

u 

169. 

Shop  Boy . 

_  11,000 

5 

.45 

u 

170. 

Shop  Girl . 

....  14,000 

6 

.43 

a 

171. 

Motorcyclist . 

....  2,400 

1 

.42 

u 

172. 

Boxmaker . 

....  4,800 

■  2 

.41 

u 

173. 

Soldier . 

§ 

....  2,400 

1 

.41 

u 

174. 

Bootblack . 

_  2,500 

1 

.4 

H 

175. 

Grocer . 

_  18,000 

7 

.39 

u 

176. 

Finisher . 

....  2,600 

1 

.38 

u 

177. 

Candymaker . 

....  12,000 

4 

.33,, 

u 

178. 

Laundryman . 

....  12,000 

4 

.33 

a 

179. 

Dentist . 

....  3,200 

1 

.31 

u 

180. 

Hotel  Man . 

....  3,200 

1 

.31 

a 

181. 

Student . 

_  16,000 

5 

.31 

u 

182. 

Stenographer . 

_  17,000 

5 

.29 

u 

183. 

Operator . 

....  9,200 

2 

.22 

u 

184. 

Tanner . 

_  9,500 

2 

.22 

u 

185. 

Saleslady . 

_  14,000 

3 

.21 

u 

186. 

Schoolgirl . 

....  170,000 

31 

.18 

u 

187. 

Druggist . 

_  16,000 

3 

.18 

u 

188. 

W  agonmaker . 

_  6,300 

1 

.16 

a 

189. 

Traveling  Salesman . 

....  8,000 

1 

.12 

a 

190. 

Bookbinder . 

_  10,000 

1 

.1 

u 

THE  PERCENTAGE  HAZARD  OF  OCCUPATIONS. 

The  census  of  may  of  the  190  occupations  listed  in  this  table  is  not 
from  actual  count,  though  most  of  them  were  checked  against  two  to  four 
sources  of  information.  Those  that  have  been  estimated  are  as  nearly 
correct  as  the  most  exhaustive  inquiry  can  make  them,  though  it  is  fully 
realized  that  it  will  take  careful  annual  revision  for  the  next  four  or  five 
years  to  bring  these  figures  to  a  completely  dependable  basis.  While  it 
is  quite  beyond  the  power  of  statisticians  to  compile  strictly  accurate 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


91 


occupation  tables  at  this  time,  the  general  information  presented  here  is 
not  only  fairly  accurate  but  will  be  serviceable  to  publicists,  humanitarians 
and  civil  workers  as  a  basis  of  information  upon  which  tobuild  in  the  future. 

Facts  and  figures  have  a  great  leveling  effect,  especially  on  minds 
accustomed  to  rely  upon  imagination  and  guesswork  in  lieu  of  data. 
Frequently  guesswork  is  more  pleasing,  as  it  is  more  likely  to  conform 
to  preconceived  ideas  and  theories,  hence  this  table  will  furnish  surprises 
for  some  and  disappointments  to  others. 

The  fact  that  in  their  order  as  hazardous  professions  those  of  actor, 
musician  and  clerk  are  14,  43  and  102  respectively,  and  that  peddlers,  detec¬ 
tives,  ball  players  and  cab  drivers  have  numbers  26,  49,  142  and  159,  is 
not  without  adequate  cause.  Actors  live  and  work  under  great  strain,  travel 
much  and  have  irregular  habits.  Musicians  are  so  centered  on  their  art 
that  they  become  bad  calculators  and  are  frequently  thoughtless  in  tak¬ 
ing  care  of  themselves,  whereas  the  confinement  to  which  clerks  are  accus¬ 
tomed  not  only  induces  hypochondria,  but  renders  them  physically  ineffi¬ 
cient  in  avoiding  the  accidents  of  homes,  streets  and  shops. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  life  of  the  peddler  is  one  of  peculiar  hazard, 
both  internal  and  external,  the  profession  of  detective,  while  in  itself  danger 
ous,  usually  gives  the  advantage  of  choice  as  to  time,  place  and  circum¬ 
stances  to  the  operator;  outside  its  sporting  environment,  baseball  is  an 
excellent  exercise  and  keeps  the  body  alert  to  avoid  dangers;  cab  drivers 
have  decreased  so  greatly  during  the  last  three  years  in  both  number  and 
percentage,  owing  to  the  increased  use  of  taxicabs  and  automobiles,  that 
the  1913  record  is  hardly  sufficient  upon  which  to  base  a  conclusion. 

There  is  no  doubt  as  to  the  dangers  of  the  professions  of  steeplejack 
and  aviator,  which  occupy  first  and  third  places,  and  the  continued  high 
record  of  casualties  year  after  year  among  switchmen,  watchmen,  porters, 
teamsters,  etc.,  will  keep  them  permanently  close  to  the  top  of  the  table 
of  hazardous  occupations. 


•  Table  No.  55. 
CAUSES  07  DEATHS. 
(Numerical  Order.) 


1912 

1913 

1.  Forma  of  Disease.  . 

1,288 

1.  Forms  of  Disease.  .  .  . 

1,180 

2.  Suicide . 

554 

2.  Suicide . 

572 

3.  Falla . 

263 

3.  Falls . 

366 

Down  stairs . 

.  92 

Down  stairs . 

.  .  .  91 

On  street . 

.  50 

On  street . 

.  .  .  58 

Out  of  window .  .  ,  . 

.  43 

Out  of  window . 

.  .  .  56 

Off  own  wagon .  .  .  . 

.  40 

Off  own  wagon . 

.  .  .  36 

Off  ladder . 

.  37 

Off  ladder . 

.  .  .  28 

Off  scaffold . 

.  30 

On  floor . 

.  .  .  26 

On  floor . 

.  24 

Off  scaffold . 

.  .  .  25 

Elevator  shaft .  .  .  . 

.  23 

Elevator  shaft . 

.  .  .  12 

From  building .  .  .  . 

.  6 

Off  porch . 

.  .  .  12 

From  horse . 

.>...  6 

Into  hold  of  boat.  .  .  . 

6 

Out  of  chair . 

.  4 

Out  of  chair . 

5 

From  roof . 

.  3 

Into  culvert . 

2 

Telephone  pole, . .  . 

.  1 

Off  bridge . 

2 

From  bridge . 

.  1 

Off  horse . 

2 

Into  hold  of  boat.  . 

.  1 

Telegraph  pole . 

1 

On  skates . 

.  2 

Through  skylight. . .  . 

1 

4.  Railroad . 

326 

Smokestack . 

1 

5.  Homicide . 

237 

Into  showcase . 

1 

6.  Street  car . 

209 

F rom  tree . 

1 

7.  Burns  and  scalds .  . 

199 

4.  Railroad . 

360 

Miscellaneous . 

.  187 

5.  Burns  and  scalds .... 

243 

By  hot  water . 

_ •.  11 

Miscellaneous . 

.  .  .  232 

By  metal . 

. .  1 

By  hot  water . 

7 

By  metal . 

4 

92 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


1912 

1913 

8.  Asphyxiation . 

171 

6.  Homicide . 

233 

Accidental . 

110 

7.  Asphyxiation . 

212 

Undetermined . 

61 

Accidental . 

148 

9.  Drowning . 

154 

Undetermined . 

64 

Undetermined . 

80 

8.  Street  car . 

165 

Accidental . 

74 

9.  Drowning . 

147 

10.  Automobile . 

98 

Accidental . 

84 

11.  Abortion . ’ . 

74 

Undetermined . 

13 

Self-induced . 

24 

10.  Automobile . 

136 

Undeternoined . 

22 

11.  Abortion . 

100 

*  Criminal . 

13 

Undetermined . 

42 

Accidental . 

9 

Self-induced . 

33 

Spontaneous . 

6 

Criminal . 

12 

12.  Alcoholism . 

60 

Accidental . 

8 

13.  Septicaemia . 

54 

Spontaneous . 

5 

14.  Poisoning . 

62 

12.  Alcoholism . 

97 

Accidental . 

35 

13.  Poisoning . 

64 

Undetermined . 

15 

Accidental . 

35 

Ptomaine . 

2 

Undetermined . 

26 

15.  Falling  obj  ecta . 

49 

Ptomaine . 

3 

16.  Wagon . 

42 

14.  Falling  objects . 

54 

17.  Tetanus . 

33 

15.  Heat  prostration . 

51 

Miscellaneous . 

31 

16.  Tetanus . 

47 

Revolver . 

1 

17.  Undetermined  violence .  . 

46 

Toy  pistol .  . . 

1 

18.  Septicaemia . 

41 

18.  Undetermined  violence. . 

29 

19.  Wagon . 

37 

19.  Suffocation . 

27 

20.  Electrocution . 

32 

By  gases . 

11 

Miscellaneous . 

19 

By  water  heater . 

10 

Light  wires . 

12 

Children . 

6 

Trolley  wire . 

1 

20.  Exposure  and  neglect .  .  . 

24 

21.  Elevator . 

28 

21.  Shooting . 

22 

22.  Caught  in  machinery... 

28 

Accidental . 

18 

23.  Shooting . 

24 

Undetermined . 

4 

Accidental . 

15 

22.  Elevator . 

21 

Undetermined . 

9 

23.  Caught  in  machinery.. .  . 

18 

24.  Elevated  railway . 

18 

24.  Elevated  railway . 

17 

25.  Under  anesthetic . 

18 

25.  Explosion . 

17 

26.  Explosion . 

16 

26.  Under  anesthetic . 

16 

27.  Motorcycle . 

14 

27.  Electrocution . 

16 

28.  Exposure  and  neglect .  .  . 

13 

Miscellaneous . 

14 

29.  Kicked  by  horse . 

7 

Light  wires . 

2 

30.  Choking . 

7 

28.  Heat  prostration . 

10 

Accidental . 

6 

29.  Motorcycle . . 

8 

Undetermined . 

1 

30.  Hydrophobia . 

7 

31.  Exposure . 

6 

31.  Kicked  by  horse . 

7 

32.  Suffocated . 

6 

32.  Choking... . 

7 

Children . 

4 

Accidental . 

6 

Water  heater . 

1 

Undetermined . 

1 

33.  Aviation . 

3 

33.  Exposure . 

4 

34.  Diving  onto  rock  or 

34.  Smothered . 

4 

bottom . 

3 

In  bin . 

2 

35.  Hydrophobia . 

2 

In  smokestack . 

1 

36.  Struck  by  lightning . 

2 

In  glucose  car . 

1 

37.  Building  collapse . 

2 

35.  Aviation . 

3 

38.  Crushed . 

2 

36.  Baseball . 

2 

In  earth . 

1 

37.  Cutting,  accidental ...... 

2 

Under  wheels . 

1 

38.  Amusement  park  device . 

1 

39.  Bicycle . 

1 

39.  Struck  by  lightning . 

1 

40.  Cutting,  accidental . 

1 

41.  Hanging,  accidental . 

1 

Total . 

4,226 

42.  Starvation . 

1 

Total .  4,385 


A  volume  could  be  written  in  explanation  of  the  above  table  of  causes. 
It  may  be  interesting  to  point  out  that  the  term  “natural  causes,”  formerly 
employed,  has  been  changed  to  the  term  “forrhs  of  disease,”  for  as  a  matter 
of  fact,  “old  age”  is  the  only  natural  cause  of  death.  In  this  Biennial 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


93 


Report  it  has  been  impossible  to  make  a  complete  classification  of  the  forms 
of  disease,  such  as  will  be  done  in  the  Annual  Report  for  1914,  for  it  is  found 
to  be  just  as  needful  to  classify  diseases  according  to  cause  when  possible 
as  to  classify  the  different  kinds  of  falls,  railroad  accidents,  automobile 
accidents,  etc.;  this  in  order  that  the  entire  report  of  cases  may  stand  as 
a  record  of  human  experience  not  only  as  to  how  to  avoid  premature  death 
from  falls,  industrial  accidents,  etc.,  but  how  to  avoid  contracting  the 
forms  of  disease  that  heretofore  have  been  listed  as  “natural causes,"  and 
thereby  failing  to  open  the  door  to  the  remedy  involved. 

In  this  table  it  is  seen  that  suicides  increased  from  523  in  1911  to  554 
in  1912  and  572  in  1913,  a  remarkably  rapid  increase,  far  in  excess  of  the 
increase  in  population;  and  it  being  a  special  doctrine  of  sociologists  that 
the  number  of  suicides  in  any  community  is  a  reliable  gauge  by  which  to 
measure  the  community’s  efficiency  in  the  line  of  social  justice,  this  increase 
should  become  the  subject  of  thoughtful  inquiry  on  the  part  of  educators, 
moralists  and  social  workers. 

The  tabulated  .list  of  deaths  by  falls,  amounting  to  363  in  1912  and 
366  in  1913,  shows  remarkable  uniformity,  the  number  falling  down  stairs, 
on  street,  out  of  windows,  off  wagons,  etc.,  occupying  the  same  position 
in  the  list  for  the  two  years,  indicating  clearly  that  there  is  an  inscrutable 
law  that  determines  the  proportion  who  under  given  conditions  of  civil¬ 
ization  will  meet  death  and  accidents  in  certain  fixed  ratios  and  propor¬ 
tions — a  subject  that  will  be  considered  more  fully  elsewhere. 

The  proportion  of  237  homicides  in  1912  as  against  233  in  1913  is  so 
close  as  to  be  almost  weird  in  its  uniformity,  when  one  considers  all  the 
varied  economic,  social  and  educational  factors  that  are  a  part  of  the 
motive  of  each  one  of  these  murders.  And  again,  the  constant  relation¬ 
ship  year  after  year  that  is  seen  between  those  who  destroy  the  lives  of 
others  and  those  who  take  their  own  lives  is  a  subject  of  unparalleled 
human  interest  to  those  who  are  equipped  to  make  a  sufficiently  detailed 
inquiry  into  the  matter. 

The  increase  of  automobile  accidents  from  98  in  1912  to  136  in  1913 
and  a  decrease  in  horse  vehicle  accidents  from  42  in  1912  to  37  in  1913 
marks  the  increase  of  the  number  of  power  vehicles  coming  into  use  and 
the  decrease  of  horse  drawn  vehicles  with  a  considerable  degree  of  accuracy. 

The  one  great  lesson  to  be  drawn  from  this  table  of  causes  is  the  evi¬ 
dent  lack  of  preparedness  on  the  part  of  a  large  proportion  of  the  people 
in  our  community,  in  the  way  of  care  and  foresight  necessary  to  live  safely 
in  this  age  of  machinery  and  countless  dangers.  The  character  of  the  ac¬ 
cidents  here  listed  indicates  a  general  lack  of  mental  and  physical  efficiency, 
and  perhaps  the  remedy  lies  in  the  adoption  of  educational  methods  in 
schools  and  homes  that  will  bring  efficiency  up  to  the  highest  point. 

NATIVITY  TABLES. 

The  following  numerical  table,  arranged  according  to  nativity,  is  so 
self-evident  as  showing  the  comparative  relationship  of  fatalities  among 
those  of  different  nationalities  that  but  slight  additional  comment  is  nec¬ 
essary.  In  both  1912  and  1913  it  is  a  close  competition  between  the  Aus¬ 
trians  and  the  Irish  for  third  place,  the  latter  winning  in  1912,  the  former 
in  1913,  and  the  same  condition  prevails  as  between  the  Italians  and  Swedes 
for  sixth  place,  the  latter  winning  in  1913,  the  former  in  1912. 

In  a  general  sense,  the  regularity  with  which  each  nationality  has 
furnished  its  quota  of  fatalities  durning  the  last  ten  years  again  indicates 
the  startling  correspondence  which  has  been  previously  referred  to  as  the 


94 


BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  SORRY 


"Law  of  Momentum  and  which  is  illustrated  by  nearly  all  of  these  nu¬ 
merical  lists  of  accidents.  The  present-day  civilization  in  our  cities,  with 
its  dangers  and  its  consequent  need  of  thoughtfulness  and  foresight,  re¬ 
sponds  year  after  year  in  perfect  proportion  with  the  population  of  each 
nationality. 

Table  No.  56. 

NATIVITY— NUMERICAL  ORDER. 

1912  1913 


1.  Americans . 2,088 

2.  Germans .  487 

3.  Irish . 263 

4.  Austrians .  213 

5.  Swedes .  141 

6.  Italians .  112 

7.  Bohemians .  90 

8.  Polish .  85 

9.  Norwegians .  80 

10.  Canadians .  68 

11.  Russians . . .  68 

12.  English .  66 

13.  Hungarians .  51 

14.  Danes .  48 

15.  Scotch .  39 

16.  Hollanders .  21 

17.  Greeks . 14 

18.  Belgians .  11 

19.  Swiss .  11 

20.  French .  9 

21.  Roumanians .  8 

22.  Bulgarians .  7 

23.  Chinese .  5 

24.  Finns .  5 

25.  Turks .  '5 

26.  Mexicans . .  .  .  •. .  4 

27.  Africans . .  1 

28.  Welsh .  1 

29.  Not  ascertained .  225 


Total .  4,223  ’ 


1 .  Americans . 2,003 

2.  Germans .  522 

3.  Austrians .  243 

4.  Irish  .  . .  242 

5.  Russians .  175 

6.  Swedes .  153 

7.  Italians .  130 

8.  Polish .  102 

9.  Bohemians .  91 

10.  English .  86 

11.  Hungarians .  74 

12.  Canadians .  71 

13.  Norwegians .  58 

14. ^  Africans .  53 

15.  Danes .  26 

16.  Greeks .  25 

17.  Scotch .  23 

18.  Hollanders .  14 

19.  Chinese .  9 

20.  French .  7 

21.  Belgians .  5 

22.  Finns .  5 

23.  Roumanians .  5 

24.  Swiss .  5 

25.  Bulgarians .  4 

26.  Turks .  4 

27.  Welsh .  3 

28.  Japanese .  2 

29.  Mexicans .  2 

30.  Spaniards .  2 

31.  Palestines .  1 

32.  Not  ascertained .  236 


Total . 4,385 


SOCIAL  AND  INDIVIDUAL  RESPONSIBILITY  FOR  ACCIDENTS. 

The  following  table  of  deaths  for  1912  and  1913  has  been  carefully 
arranged  in  order  to  show  which  occupations  are  dangerous  in  themselves 
and  in  which  the  personal  responsibility  of  the  one  injured  is  at  fault.  It  is 
not  to  be  supposed  that  this  table  is  strictly  accurate,  but  it  is  a  fairly  close 
estimate  on  which  to  erect  more  accurate  and  satisfactory  calculation  in 
the  future.  It  is  also  believed  that  the  earnest  effort  to  estimate  the  causes 
of  the  fatalities  shown  will  not  fail  to  be  appreciated. 

Table  No.  57. 

OCCUPATIONS. 

Social  Responsibility.  Individual  Responsibility. 


Actor . 

1912 

.  5 

1913 

12 

Acrobat . 

1912 

1913 

1 

Actress . 

.  6 

2 

Advertiser . 

.  1 

2 

Baker . 

.  14 

13 

Agent . 

.  24 

28 

Blacksmith . 

.  23 

31 

Architect . 

.  1 

1 

Bookbinder . 

.  5 

1 

Artist . 

.  3 

1 

Bo.x  maker . 

.  3 

2 

Auctioneer . 

.  3 

Brakeman . 

.  14 

9 

Aviator . 

.  3 

2 

Bricklayer . 

.  20 

26 

Banker . ^ . 

.  .  . 

2 

Brickmaker ........ 

6 

Barber . 

.  27 

20 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN 


95 


More  than  150  Victims  a  Year  from  Scalds 


96 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Social  Responsibility 

Individual  Responsibility 

1912 

1913 

1912 

1913 

Breweryman . 

9 

4 

Bartender . 

29 

30 

Broom  Maker . 

3 

2 

Baseball  Player . 

1 

Butcher . 

.  .  .  24 

32 

Bookkeeper . 

26 

23 

Boilermaker . 

2 

5 

Bootblack . 

1 

Cab  Driver . 

Q- 

1 

Broker . 

is 

6 

Cabinet  Maker . 

9 

14 

Buyer . 

1 

5 

Candymaker . 

2 

4 

Bellhop . 

1 

Car  Cleaner . . 

3 

Chemist . . 

i 

1 

Car  Inspector . 

6 

Chiropodist . 

•  a 

1 

Car  Repairer . 

8 

16 

Civil  Engineer . 

1 

1 

Carpenter . 

.  .  .  88 

89 

Coal  Dealer . 

3 

4 

Chauffeur . 

.  .  .  13 

11 

Collector . . 

6 

8 

Cigarmaker . 

.  .  .  10 

12 

Contractor . 

5 

10 

City  Fireman . 

6 

2 

Custodian . 

a  a 

1 

Clerk . 

.  .  .  145 

133 

Dentist . 

2 

1 

Conductor . 

.  .  .  19 

15 

Designer . 

2 

2 

Cook . 

.  .  .  35 

37 

Draftsman . 

3 

4 

Cooper . 

8 

5 

Dressmaker . 

13 

11 

Cornicemaker . 

1 

1 

Druggist . 

2 

3 

Craneman . . 

2 

Engraver . .  .  . 

2 

Decorator . 

4 

Farmer . 

36 

35 

Detective . 

3 

Florist . 

3 

1 

Domestic . 

.  .  .  80 

59 

Gardener . 

4 

5 

Dredger . 

1 

Gasfitter . 

2 

1 

Dyer . 

5 

2 

Grocer . 

9 

7 

Electrician . 

.  .  .  15 

17 

Glovemaker . 

1 

Elevated  Conductor . 

.  .  .  11 

18 

Harnessmaker . 

i 

3 

Engineer . 

.  .  .  33 

36 

Hatter . 

1 

1 

Factory  Hand . 

.  .  .  28 

36 

Hostler . 

5 

13 

Fireman . 

.  .  .  16 

26 

Housekeeper . . . 

90 

70 

Fisherman . 

2 

3 

Housewife . 

531 

441 

Flagman . . 

. .  .  7 

5 

Hotel  Man . 

1 

Foreman . 

,  .  .  15 

19 

Inspector . 

11 

6 

Finisher . • . 

1 

Insurance  Adjuster . 

5 

1 

Glassworker . 

4 

3 

Inventor . 

a  a 

2 

Guard . 

1 

2 

Jeweler . 

2 

10 

Hod  Carrier . 

8 

5 

Junk  Dealer . 

a  a 

3 

Ironworker . 

.  .  20 

28 

Lace  Cleaner . 

1 

1 

Janitor . 

.  .  .  38 

40 

Lawyer . 

6 

6 

Laborer . 

, . .  803 

834 

Lithographer . 

2 

•  • 

No  Occupation . 

,  . .  430 

488 

Liveryman . 

1 

3 

Undetermined . 

.  .  221 

207 

Locksmith . 

1 

1 

Janitress . 

7 

Mailcarrier . 

7 

3 

Laundryman . 

4 

4 

Manager . 

9 

9 

Laundress . . 

.  .  11 

14 

Merchant . ' . 

42 

31 

Lineman . 

3 

11 

Messenger . 

8 

13 

Machinist . 

.  .  55 

86 

Midwife . 

1 

1 

Manufacturer . 

.  .  14 

11 

Milkdealer . 

1 

3 

Molder . 

.  .  18 

18 

Miller . 

4 

1 

Motorman . 

9 

16 

Milliner . 

1 

2 

Miner . 

2 

Minister . 

2 

1 

Oiler . 

. 

5 

Musician . 

13 

8 

Operator . 

8 

2 

Motorcyclist . 

1 

1 

Painter . 

.  .  63 

66 

Newsboy . 

a  a 

1 

Paperhanger . 

. .  5 

3 

Newspaper  Man . 

2 

2 

Packer . 

4 

9 

Nurse . 

15 

4 

Pilot . . 

1  i  1 

2 

Optician . 

•  • 

4 

Plasterer . 

5 

8 

Patternmaker . 

•  • 

3 

Plumber . 

.  .  10 

8 

Peddler . 

26 

22 

Police  Officer . 

.  .  12 

20 

Photographer . 

a  a 

5 

Prostitute . 

.  .  3 

1 

Physician . 

4 

12 

R.  R.  Guard . 

4 

1 

Porter . 

56 

62 

Roofer . 

5 

8 

Promoter . 

1 

3 

Sailor . 

.  .  11 

12 

Printer . 

12 

29 

Saleslady . 

3 

3 

Publisher . 

3 

1 

Salesman . 

.  .  48 

59 

Poster . 

1 

a  a 

School  Boy . 

.  .  109 

106 

Polisher . 

a  a 

5 

School  Girl . 

.  .  42 

31 

Ragpicker . 

a  a 

1 

School  Teacher . 

5 

10 

Real  Estate  Dealer . 

17 

15 

Shoemaker . 

,  .  .  16 

14 

Restaurant  Keeper . 

4 

9 

Shopgirl . 

.  .  6 

•  • 

Rodman . 

1 

a  a 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


97 


Social  Responsibility 

1912  1913 


Shopboy .  5 

Signwriter .  1 

Steamfitter .  15  12 

Steeplejack .  2 

Switchman .  43  67 

Tailor .  45  46 

Tailoress .  5  8 

Tanner .  8  2 

Teamster . 141  156 

Telegraph  Operator .  3  10 

Tinsmith .  9  3 

Trackman .  2  1 

Trimmer .  1 

Tender .  1 

Towerman .  5 

Wagon  Boy .  1 

Wagonmaker .  2  1 

Window  Washer .  1  6 

Watchman .  48  52 

W  recker .  1 

Waiter .  23  24 

Waitress .  5  11 

Woodworker .  14  4 

Wrapper .  1 

Y  ardmaster .  1  3 


Individual  Responsibility 

1912  1913 


Retired .  2 

Saloonkeeper .  22  26 

Secretary .  3  1 

Soldier . .  1 

Solicitor .  4  6 

Speculator .  1 

Stagehand .  1 

Stenographer .  5 

Stonecutter .  7 

Student .  3 

Superintendent .  2 

Surveyor .  1 

Ticket  Broker . 

Traveling  Salesman .  3 

Undertaker .  1 

Upholsterer .  1 

V  alet . 


SUICIDES  IN  ORDER  OF  MONTHS. 

The  following  numerical  table  of  suicides  by  months,  while  showing 
April  in  third  place  in  both  years  and  February  in  sixth  place,  fails  to  in¬ 
dicate  that  the  time  of  year  or  the  temperature  have  anything  to  do  with 
the  increase  or  decrease  of  suicides,  July  occupying  first  place  in  1912  and 
December  in  1913.  The  increase  in  suicides  which  astrologers  are  ac 
customed  to  attribute  to  certain  signs  in  the  heavens  are  shown  by  this 
comparative  table  to  be  directly  connected  with  seasonal  variations,  con¬ 
ditions  of  heat  and  cold,  possibly  also  of  moisture. 

When  considering  all  the  social,  educational  and  economic  forces 
which  combined  are  the  cause  of  suicide,  the  uniformity  with  which  these 
catastrophes  occurred  in  1912  and  1913  is  surely  startling  and  indicates 
how  perfectly  the  law  of  cause  and  effect,  acting  through  our  present-day 
civilization,  turns  our  its  grist  year  after  year  of  those  upon  whom  the  con¬ 
ditions  of  life  press  too  heavily  to  be  endured. 


Table  No.  58. 

SUICIDES  IN  ORDER  OF  MONTHS. 


1912 


1.  July .  57 

2.  March .  56 

3.  April .  54 

4.  May .  51 

5.  September .  51 

6.  February .  50  _ 

7.  June .  46 

8.  August .  43 

9.  November .  43 

10.  January .  40 

11.  October .  37 

12.  December .  26 


Total .  554 


1913 


1.  December .  59 

2.  October .  56 

3.  April .  56 

4.  June .  54 

5.  August .  51 

6.  February .  47 

7.  January .  45 

8.  March .  43 

9.  May .  42 

10.  September .  42 

11.  July .  41 

12.  November .  36 


Total .  572 


1-1  m  <£)  M  (N —I 


98 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


SUICIDES  IN  THE  ORDER  OF  AGE. 

There  are  134  suicides  between  the  ages  of  20  and  30  in  first  place  in 
1913*  with  129  in  second  place  between  the  same  ages  in  1912;  with  the 
exception  of  this  change  of  position,  the  remainder  of  the  table  is  practi¬ 
cally  uniform  for  the  two  years,  and  when  this  uniformity  of  age  is  con¬ 
trasted  with  uniformity  as  to  cause,  nativity,  month,  etc.,  it  forces  the 
conclusion  that  human  affairs,  like  the  affairs  of  all  life  and  nature,  parti¬ 
cipate  in  the  great  law  of  momentum  seen  throughout  nature  in  the  change 
of  seasons,  the  rotation  of  the  earth  on  its  axis  and  the  budding  of  animal 
and  vegetable  life,  season  after  season. 

It  is  seen  that  7.19  per  cent  of  suicides  were  under  20  years  of  age; 
23-35  cent  between  20  and  30;  22.55  pcr  cent  between  30  and  40;  18.82 

per  cent  between  40  and  50;  47.7  were  over  40  years  of  age. 

Table  No.  59. 

SUICIDES  IN  ORDER  OF  AGE. 


1912 

1913 

1. 

30  to  40  years . 

.  134 

1. 

20  to  30  years . 

.  134 

2. 

20  to  30  years . 

.  129 

2. 

30  to  40  years . 

.  120 

3. 

40  to  50  years . 

.  95 

3. 

40  to  50  years . 

.  117 

4. 

50  to  60  years . 

.  87 

4. 

50  to  60  years . 

.  107 

5. 

10  to  20  years . 

.  47 

5. 

60  to  70  years . 

.  47 

6. 

60  to  70  years . 

.  40 

6 

10  to  20  years . 

.  24 

7. 

70  to  80  years . 

.  12 

7. 

70  to  80  years . 

.  11 

8. 

Over  80  years . 

.  4 

8'. 

Over  80  years . .  . 

.  6 

9. 

Under  10  years . 

.  1 

9. 

Under  10  years . 

.  0 

10. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  5 

10. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  6 

Total . .**. . 

.  554 

Total . 

.  572 

SUICIDES  IN  THE  ORDER  OF  NATIVITY. 

It  is  quite  usual  among  people  discussing  suicides  and  the  nationali¬ 
ties  given  to  self-destruction,  to  imply  that  those  of  certain  races  are  more 
addicted  than  others  to  this  division  of  crime,  basing  their  conclusions 
upon  guesswork  instead  of  statistics.  A  study  of  the  following  compara¬ 
tive  tables  for  1912  and  1913  shows  an  almost  perfect  uniformity  for  the 
different  years,  and  a  comparison  with  the  population  of  each  nationality 
in  Cook  County  will  show  that  almost  the  same  average  percentage  of 
each  race  commits  suicide  every  year,  the  general  increase  being  in  some 
degree  affected  by  economic  conditions,  extreme  heat  or  extreme  cold  and 
by  the  natural  increase  of  population,  and  taking  a  ten- year  average,  so 
closely  does  the  number  of  suicides  run  in  relation  to  the  population  of 
each  nationality  that  it  actually  forms  a  reliable  basis  upon  which  to  com¬ 
pute  the  census.  The  value  of  these  numerical  tables  consists  in  helping 
those  who  study  them  to  see  these  great  truths  in  their  true  proportion. 

Table  No.  60. 

SUICIDES  IN  ORDER  OF  NATIVITY. 


1912 

1913 

1. 

Americans . 

.  222 

1.  Americans . 

.  225 

2. 

Germans . 

.  88 

2.  Germans . 

.  109 

3. 

Austrians . 

.  42 

3.  Austrians . 

.  41 

4. 

Russians . 

.  30 

4.  Russians . 

.  28 

5. 

Bohemians . 

.  30 

5.  Bohemians . 

.  24 

6. 

Swedes . 

.  18 

6.  Swedes . 

.  23 

7. 

Danes . 

.  13 

7.  Hungarians . 

.  15 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


99 


1912 


8.  Irish .  12 

9.  Polish .  10 

10.  Hungarians .  8 

11.  Africans .  7 

12.  English .  7 

13.  French .  7 

14.  Italians .  7 

15.  Norwegians .  7 

16.  Canadians .  6 

17.  Hollanders .  3 

18.  Belgians .  2 

19.  Chinese .  2 

20.  Finns .  2 

21.  Roumanians .  1 

22.  Scotch .  1 

23.  Not  ascertained .  29 

Total .  554 


1913 


8.  Italians .  13 

9.  English .  11 

10.  Norwegians .  10 

11.  Canadians .  9 

12.  Irish .  9 

13.  Danes .  8 

14.  Polish .  7 

15.  Africans .  5 

16.  Finns .  3 

17.  Bulgarians .  2 

18.  Chinese .  2 

19  Greeks .  2 

20.  Scotch .  2 

21.  Swiss .  2 

22.  Belgians .  1 

23.  French .  1 

24.  Hollanders .  1 

25.  Japanese .  1 

26.  Not  ascertained .  18 


Total .  572 


METHODS  OF  SUICIDE  IN  THEIR  ORDER 

A  study  of  the  following  table  as  to  the  mode  of  committing  suicide, 
when  compared  with  the  table  showing  the  different  kinds  of  deaths  by 
falling,  and  compared  again  with  the  different  ways  of  meeting  death  from 
automobile  accidents,  street  car  accidents,  etc.,  emphasizes  beyond  ques¬ 
tion  the  law  of  sociologial  and  psychological  momentum  that  has  been 
referred  to  elsewhere  in  this  report.  In  1912  the  number  of  suicides  was 
21.5  per  100,000  and  in  1913,  21.8,  showing  how  closely  increase  of  suicides 
keeps  step  with  the  increase  in  population.  Some  may  ask:  “How  does 
it  happen  that  162  in  Cook  County  chose  shooting  as  a  mode  of  death  in 
1912,  and  164  in  1913;  and  that  153  chose  asphyxiation  in  1912,  and  163  in 
1913;  that  exactly  57  chose  hanging  in  1912  and  57  in  1913;  that  20  chose 
drowning  in  1912  and  22  in  1913?“  The  uniformity  of  these  figures  year 
after  year  is  startling  and  indicates  a  subconscious  dissatisfaction  with 
self  permeating  all  races  and  all  society  within  the  boundary  of  Cook 
County. 

The  554  in  1912  and  the  572  in  1913  who  accomplished  self-destruction 
had  mostly  been  contemplating  it  for  some  time,  many  of  them  for  years, 
to  the  extent  that  a  careful  estimate  has  been  made  that  there  are  some 
12,000  persons  in  Cook  County  at  this  moment  contemplating  suicide. 
Some  of  them  will  carry  out  their  intent  in  some  month  during  the  year, 
others  will  do  it  next  year,  a  less  number  the  year  after,  and  so  on  probably 
for  ten  or  fifteen  years  to  come,  before  all  those  now  contemplating  it  carry 
out  their  intent  or  decide  to  abandon  it.  It  is  clear  that  educational  con¬ 
ditions  in  home,  school  and  church  have  a  powerful  influence  in  forming 
or  avoiding  the  mental  attitude  that  will  result  in  self-destruction,  and  it 
is  to  be  hoped  that  our  psychologists  and  educators  will  ultimately  reach 
an  understanding  so  complete  of  the  phenomena  of  suicide  as  to  finally 
implant  a  viewpoint  toward  life,  especially  in  the  relationship  of  the  indi¬ 
vidual  toward  society,  that  will  largely  divert  from  suicidal  intent  even 
a  majority  of  those  who  may  inherit  tendencies  in  this  direction. 

It  is  for  government  and  society  to  so  organize  their  educational  and 
economic  forces  as  to  place  their  members  under  conditions  that  will  make 
as  little  strain  as  possible  upon  the  mind  in  living  this  life  of  ours;  in  fact, 
there  is  no  question  but  that  the  percentage  of  suicides  will  be  largely  de¬ 
creased  when  this  world  is  made  a  happier,  saner  and  safer  place  to  live  in. 


100 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


The  trained  statistician  finds  strange  truths  hidden  back  of  the  fact 
that  year  after  year  the  method  of  self-destruction  maintains  exactly  the 
same  order,  viz.,  the  largest  number  select  shooting,  then  asphyxiation, 
poisoning,  hanging,  cutting,  drowning,  jumping  from  windows,  etc.  What 
is  there  in  the  surrounding  conditions  of  life,  in  the  relationships  of  war, 
peace,  punishment,  the  drug  business,  the  use  of  gas  for  lighting  and  heat¬ 
ing,  the  use  of  water  for  boating,  swimming  and  navigation,  together  with 
the  influences  of  government,  school,  church,  wealth,  poverty,  etc.,  that 
should  continue  this  uniformity  of  selection  year  after  year,  unless  it  is  a 
part  of  a  law  of  momentum,  inherent  in  the  nature  of  things? 

Of  the  total  suicides  for  1912  and  1913,  28.15  cent  employed 
asphyxiation;  28.95  pcr  cent  used  firearms;  21.23  pcr  cent  used  poisons; 
31.26  per  cent  were  despondent  and  31.5  temporarily  insane;  55.59  per  cent 
were  married;  28.59  pcr  cent  were  single.  There  is  of  course,  always  a 
certain  number  of  whom  it  is  unknown  whether  they  are  married  or  single. 


Table  No.  61. 


METHODS  OF  SUICIDE  IN  THEIR  ORDER. 


1912 

1913 

1. 

Shooting . 

.  162 

1.  Shooting . 

.  164 

2. 

Asphyxiation . 

.  153 

2.  Asphyxiation . 

.  163 

3. 

Poisoning . 

.  130 

3.  Poisoning . 

.  109 

4. 

Hanging . 

.  57 

4.  Hanging . 

.  57 

5. 

Cutting . 

.  22 

5.  Cutting . 

.  33 

6. 

Drowning . 

.  20 

6.  Drowning . 

.  22 

7. 

Jumping  from  Mundow . 

.  5 

7.  Jumping  from  window . 

.  9 

8. 

Jumping  from  building . 

.  3 

8.  Setting  fire  to  self . 

.  7 

9. 

Jumping  under  train . 

.  2 

9.  Jumping  under  train . 

.  6 

10.  Jumping  from  building . 

.  2 

Total . 

_  554 

Total . 

.  572 

POISONS  USED  FOR  SUICIDE  IN  THEIR  ORDER. 

The  following  numerical  table  showing  the  poisons  used  for  suicide 
in  1912  and  1913  carries  into  this  detail  the  same  pronounced  uniformity 
that  is  shown  year  after  year,  and  is  referred  to  in  connection  with  the 
previous  tables.  Why  carbolic  acid,  an  exceedingly  disagreeable  and  pain¬ 
ful  mode  of  death,  should  be  the  most  popular  mode  of  poisoning  year 
after  year  seems  beyond  comprehension  except  that  through  the  medium 
of  suggestion  the  newspaper  reports  of  these  deaths,  giving  this  method 
forms  a  momentum  or  a  fashion  of  self-destruction  entirely  independent  of 
common  sense;  and  many  believe  that  no  one  with  real  good  sense  would 
commit  suicide  at  all,  hence  good  judgment  can  hardly  be  expected  from 
those  who  wish  to  prematurely  put  an  end  to  their  lives.  While  chloro¬ 
form  occupied  second  place  in  1912,  it  dropped  to  third  place  in  1913,  and 
cyanide  of  potassium,  which  stood  third  in  1912,  arose  to  second  place  in 
1913,  all  the  result  of  causes  beyond  the  ken  of  saints  or  seers.  So  closely 
have  these  relationships  been  maintained  for  the  past  ten  years  that  if  the 
present  system  of  reporting  poisons  used,  by  the  newspapars,  continues  in 
the  future  as  in  the  past,  we  may  feel  assured  that  there  will  be  no  impor¬ 
tant  change  in  the  selection  of  poisons  during  the  coming  years.  Taking 
the  two  years  together,  it  is  seen  that  carbolic  acid  has  been  the  method 
of  death  selected  by  54.39  per  cent  of  all  those  who  have  sought  self-de¬ 
struction  through  the  poison  route. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


101 


Table  No.  62. 

POISONS  USED  FOR  SUICIDE  IN  THEIR  ORDER. 


1912 

1.  Carbolic  acid .  74 

2.  Chloroform . .  9 

3.  Cyanide  of  Potassium .  6 

4.  Paris  Green .  6 

5.  Narcotic .  4 

6.  Rough-on-rats .  4 

7.  Chloride  of  Zinc .  3 

8.  Arsenic .  3 

9.  Corrosive .  3 

10.  Morphine .  2 

11.  Opium .  2 

12.  Strychnine. .  2 

13.  Muriatic  acid .  1 

14.  Not  ascertained . ^ _ n 

Total .  130 


1913 

1.  Carbolic  acid .  60 

2.  Cyanide  of  Potassium .  7 

3.  Chloroform .  6 

4.  Narcotic .  5 

5.  Rough-on-rats .  5 

6.  Chloride  of  Zinc .  4 

7.  Strychnine .  4 

8.  Paris  Green .  3 

9.  Corrosive .  2 

10.  Morphine .  2 

11.  Muriatic  Acid .  2 

12.  Opium .  1 

13.  Prussic  Acid .  1 

14.  Not  ascertained .  7 

Total .  109 


HOMICIDES  IN  THE  ORDER  OF  AGE. 

It  has  been  the  object  of  these  tables  as  far  as  is  possible  to  make  the 
classifications  in  a  manner  to  show  the  cause  of  the  casualty  or  disaster 
with  which  each  table  deals,  to  present  a  lesson  whereby  further  continuance 
of  the  same  cause  of  disaster  may  be  averted.  Our  homicide  tables  in  this 
report  are  purely  a  record  of  the  age,  nativity,  occupation,  mode  of  death, 
etc.,  of  the  persons  killed,  and  unfortunately  our  records  for  this  report 
are  lacking  in  information  that  would  enable  us  to  provide  an  account  of 
the  slayer,  in  relation  to  which  cause  might  be  considered.  It  is  but  fair 
to  state  that  the  1914  records  will  also  include  a  record  of  the  slayer  from 
which  to  extract  tables  based  on  cause,  with  the  hope  of  lessening  homicides 
in  the  coming  years.  In  the  following  table  of  age  of  those  who  lost  their 
lives  by  homicide  in  1912  and  1913,  the  same  uniformity  is  observed  as 
has  been  pointed  out  in  previous  tables,  and  this  is  here  mentioned  for  the 
reason  that  it  is  by  a  study  of  this  uniformity  that  the  remedies  of  the  future 
must  be  determined. 

Table  No.  63. 

HOMICIDES  IN  THE  ORDER  OF  AGE. 


1912 

< 

1913 

1. 

20  to  30  years . 

.  78 

1.  20  to  30  years . . 

.  85 

2. 

30  to  40  years . 

.  57 

2.  30  to  40  years . 

.  57 

3. 

40  to  50  years . 

.  35 

3.  40  to  50  years . 

.  28 

4. 

10  to  20  years . 

.  26 

4.  50  to  60  years . . 

.  18 

5. 

Under  10  years . 

.  17 

5.  10  to  20  years . 

.  17 

6. 

50  to  60  years . 

. 12 

6.  Under  10  years . 

.  9 

7. 

60  to  70  years . 

.  4 

7.  60  to  70  years. .  .* . . 

.  5 

8. 

70  to  80  years . 

.  2 

8.  70  to  80  years . 

.  3 

9. 

Over  80  years . 

.  1 

9.  Over  80  years . 

.  0 

10. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  5 

10.  Not  ascertained . 

.  11 

Total . 

.  237 

Total'. . 

.  233 

MODES  OF  HOMICIDE  IN  THEIR  ORDER 

While  the  number  killed  in  1913  is  slightly  less  than  in  1912,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  increase  in  population,  the  general  uniformity  of  method, 
shooting  first,  blow  on  head  second,  stabbing  third,  etc.,  is  seen  as  in  pre¬ 
vious  tables,  even  to  extent  that  exactly  the  same  number  in  each  of  the 
two  years  covered  by  this  report  were  killed  by  blow  on  the  head  or  body, 
42.  While  the  tendency  to  homicide,  like  other  tendencies  of  the  times, 
must  naturally  be  regarded  as  a  phase  of  our  present-day  civilization, 
there  is  no  other  explanation  of  the  uniformity  of  method  employed  year 
after  year  except  by  means  of  the  suggestion  of  the  newspapers  in  detail¬ 
ing  the  methods  of  death  in  their  news  items.  These  suggestions  from  day, 
to  day  become  fixed  in  the  minds  of  those  who  contemplate  homicide, 


102 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


thus  repeating  the  same  records  and  proportions  year  after  year  in  accord¬ 
ance  with  the  extent  that  the  minds  of  those  contemplating  murder  are 
impressed. 

Table  No.  64. 

MODES  OF  HOMICIDE  IN  THEIR  ORDER. 


1912 

1913 

1. 

Shooting . 

. 155 

1.  Shooting . 

. 140 

2. 

Blow  on  head  or  body . 

.  42 

2.  Blow  on  head  or  body . 

.  42 

3. 

Stabbing . 

.  14 

3.  Stabbing . 

.  25 

4. 

Asphyxiation . 

.  9 

4.  Explosion . 

. V  11 

5. 

Cutting . 

.  7 

5.  Cutting . 

.  5 

6. 

Strangulation . 

.  3 

6.  Asphyxiation . 

.  3 

7. 

Drowning . 

.  2 

7.  Poison . 

.  3 

8. 

Explosion . 

.  1 

8.  Strangulation . 

.  3 

9. 

Neglect . 

.  1 

9.  Drowning . 

.  1 

10. 

Poison . 

.  1 

11. 

Thrown  out  of  window . 

_ .  1 

Total . 

. 233 

12. 

Thrown  down  stairs . 

.  1 

Total . 

HOMICIDES  IN  ORDER  OF  NATIVITY. 

A  comparison  between  the  relative  standing  of  nationalities  of  the 
following  homicide  table  with  the  suicide  table  No.  77  and  the  nativity 
inquest  table  No.  76,  exhibits  unmistakable  tendencies  that  cannot  fail 
to  be  of  the  greatest  value  to  social  psychologists  and  criminologists. 

While  the  Italian  population  of  Chicago  is  85,000  and  occupies  seventh 
place,  it  will  be  observed  that  it  takes  second  place,  following  Americans, 
in  both  1912,  showing  26  murders,  and  1913,  with  35  murders,  whereas 
under  suicides  Italians  were  fourteenth  in  1912  and  eighth  in  1913.  Ger¬ 
mans,  with  the  largest  population  in  Chicago  next  to  Americans,  are  third 
in  homicides  in  1912  and  fourth  in  1913,  whereas  they  occupy  second  place 
in  the  suicide  table  as  well  as  in  the  numerical  table  of  total  inquests.  The 
Irish,  keeping  third  place  in  1913  and  sixth  place  in  1912  in  the  list  of  homi¬ 
cides,  are  twelfth  in  suicides  in  1913  and  eighth  in  1912,  whereas  they  are 
fourth  and  third  respectively  in  the  table  of  total  inquests.  The  contin¬ 
uation  of  this  system  of  comparison  in  the  rest  of  the  tables  will  be  a  good 
index  of  the  tendencies  of  different  nationalities  to  depart  from  their 
natural  order  of  population  in  the  number  of  inquests,  suicides  and  homi¬ 
cides  respectively. 

Table  No.  65. 

HOMICIDES  IN  ORDER  OF  NATIVITY. 


Nativity. 

1912 

Nativity. 

1913 

1. 

Americans . 

. 129 

1. 

Americans . 

. 112 

2. 

Italians . 

.  26 

2. 

Italians . 

.  35 

3. 

Germans . 

.  16 

3. 

Irish . 

.  14 

4. 

Austrians . 

.  14 

4. 

German . 

.  12 

5. 

Russians . 

.  7 

5. 

Russians . . 

.  11 

6. 

Irish . 

.  7 

6. 

Austrians . . 

.  7 

7. 

Hungarians . 

.  4 

7. 

Hungarians . 

.  7 

8. 

Polish . 

.  4 

8. 

Polish . 

.  7 

9. 

Bulganans . 

.  4 

9. 

Africans . 

.  6 

10. 

Danes . 

.  4 

10. 

Norwegians . 

.  3 

11. 

Greeks . 

.  3 

11. 

Roumanians . 

.  3 

12. 

Belgians . 

.  2 

12. 

Canadians . 

.  2 

13. 

Bohemians . 

.  2 

13. 

English . 

.  2 

14. 

Canadians . 

.  2 

14. 

Greeks . 

.  2 

15. 

Norwegians . 

.  2 

15. 

Swedes . 

.  2 

16. 

Roumanians . 

.  2 

16. 

Bohemians . 

.  1 

17. 

Scotch  . 

.  1 

17. 

French . 

.  1 

18. 

Swedes . 

.  1 

18. 

Scotch  . 

.  1 

19. 

Swiss . 

.  1 

19. 

Swiss . 

.  1 

20. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  6 

20. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  4 

Total . 

. 237 

Total . 

. 233 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


103 


TRANSPORTATION  ACCIDENTS  IN  NUMERICAL  ORDER. 

>  The  following  tables  of  transportation  accidents  are  made  of  the  cas¬ 
ualties  of  the  railway,  street  car  and  elevated  railway  companies,  complete 
explanation  in  connection  with  which  will  be  found  elswhere  under  these 
separate  headings : 


Table  No.  66. 

TRANSPORTATION  ACCIDENTS— NUMERICAL  ORDER  AS  TO  AOE. 


Ages  1912 

1 .  20  to  30  years . 116 

2.  30  to  40  years . 106 

3.  40  to  50  years .  92 

4.  50  to  60  years .  71 

5.  60  to  70  years . 46 

6.  Under  10  years .  43 

7.  10  to  20  years .  40 

8.  70  to  80  years .  12 

9.  Over  80  years .  4 

10.  Not  ascertained .  24 


Total . ,5.54 


Ages  1913 

1.  20  to  30  years . 109 

2.  40  to  50  years . 108 

3.  30  to  40  years . 103 

4.  50  to  60  years .  58 

5.  60  to  70  years .  5i 

6.  10  to  20  years .  38 

7.  70  to  80  years .  24 

8.  Under  10  years .  23 

0.  Ov'er  80  years. .  4 

10.  Not  a.scertained .  25 


Total . 543 


104 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Table  No.  67. 

TRANSPORTATION  ACCIDENTS  IN  ORDER  OF  NATIVITY. 


Nativity 

1912 

Nativity 

1913 

1. 

Americans . 

. 240 

1. 

Americans . 

. 231 

2. 

Irish . 

.  47 

2. 

Germans . 

.  69 

3. 

Germans . 

.  45 

3. 

Irish . 

.  42 

4. 

Austrians . 

.  32 

4. 

Russians . . 

.  31 

5. 

Italians . 

.  25 

5. 

Austrians . 

.  22 

6. 

Swedes . 

.  21 

6. 

Swedes . 

.  19 

7. 

Russians . 

.  19 

7. 

Italians . 

.  19 

8. 

Polish . 

.  18 

8. 

Polish . 

.  16 

9. 

Canadians . 

.  12 

9. 

Bohemians . 

.  13 

10. 

French . 

.  10 

10. 

Hungarians . 

.  12 

11. 

Hollanders . 

.  9 

11. 

Greeks . 

.  9 

12. 

Norwegians . 

.  6 

12. 

Norwegians . 

.  6 

13. 

Hungarians . 

.  6 

13. 

Africans . 

.  5 

14. 

English . 

.  6 

14. 

English . 

.  5 

15. 

Bohemians . ^ . 

.  5 

15. 

Canadians . 

.  3 

16. 

Greeks . 

.  5 

16. 

Hollanders . 

.  3 

17. 

Belgians . 

.  4 

17. 

French . 

.  2 

18. 

Scotch  . 

.  3 

18. 

Scotch  . 

.  2 

19. 

Danes . 

.  3 

19. 

Danes . 

.  1 

20. 

Roumanians . 

.  2 

20. 

Japanese . .  . 

.  1 

21. 

Turks . 

.  2 

21. 

Mexicans . 

.  1 

22. 

Bulgarians . 

.  1 

22. 

Roumanians . 

.  1 

23. 

Chinese . 

.  1 

23. 

Turks . 

.  1 

24. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  32 

24. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  29 

Total . 

. 554 

Total . 

. 543 

Table 

No.  < 

68. 

RAILWAY  ACCIDENTS— NUMERICAL  ORDER  AS  TO  MODE. 


• 

1912 

1913 

1. 

Walking  on  Track . 

. 119 

1. 

Walking  on  Track . 

. 149 

2. 

Crossing  Track . 

.  73 

2. 

Crossing  Tracks . 

.  74 

3. 

Falling  off  Train . 

.  27 

3. 

Crushed  by  Cars . 

.  26 

4. 

Collision . 

.  24 

4. 

Falling  off  Train . 

.  25 

5. 

Run  Down . 

.  22 

5. 

Jumping  on  or  off . 

.  17 

6. 

Jumping  on  or  off . 

.  13 

6. 

Wreck . 

.  16 

7. 

Crushed . 

.  12 

7. 

Collision . 

.  9 

8. 

Struck  by  Viaduct . 

.  5 

8. 

Hitching . 

.  9 

9. 

Hitching . 

.  4 

9. 

Struck  by  Viaduct . 

.  2 

10. 

Scalded  by  Steam . 

.  4 

10. 

Leaning  out  ot  Cab . 

.  2 

11. 

Coupling . 

.  2 

11. 

Scalded  by  Steam . 

.  1 

12. 

Wreck . 

.  2 

12. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  30 

13. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  19 

Total . 

. 360 

Total . . 

. 326 

Table 

No. 

69. 

STREET  RAILWAY  ACCIDENTS— NUMERICAL  ORDER  AS  TO  MODE. 


1912  1913 


1. 

Crossing  tracks  not  at  crossing. 

..  54 

1. 

Run  down  by  train . 

6(^ 

2. 

Crossing  track  at  crossing . 

..  45 

2. 

Crossing  track  not  at  crossing. .  , 

,  .  23 

3. 

Run  dowm  by  train . 

.  .  37 

3. 

Crossing  tracks  at  crossing . 

,  .  18 

4. 

Fall  from  car . 

.  .  16 

4. 

Vehicle  struck  by  car . 

.  .  16 

5. 

Collision . 

.  .  14 

5. 

Fall  from  car . 

..  12 

6. 

Vehicle  struck  by  car . 

.  .  14 

6. 

Crushed  betw’eeii  cars . 

.  .  9 

7. 

Crushed  between  cars . 

.  .  10 

7. 

Collision . 

,  .  9 

8. 

Getting  on  or  off . 

.  .  8 

8. 

Walking  on  track . 

,  .  7 

9. 

Walking  on  track . 

.  .  6 

9. 

Getting  on  or  off . 

.  3 

10. 

Leaning  out  of  car . 

.  .  3 

10. 

Hitching . 

.  2 

11. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  .  2 

11. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  6 

Total 


209 


Total 


165 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


105 


Table  No.  70. 

ELEVATED  RAILWAY  ACCIDENTS— NUMERICAL  ORDER  AS  TO  MODE. 


1912 


1.  Run  down  by  train .  11 

2.  Fell  off  platform .  2 

3.  Walking  on  track .  2 

4.  Crushed  between  car  and  platform  1 

5.  Collision .  1 


Total .  17 


1913 


1.  Run  down  by  train .  JO 

2.  Walking  on  track .  4 

3.  Fell  off  platform .  2 

4.  Electrocuted .  1 

5.  Crushed  between  car  and  plat¬ 

form .  1 


Total .  18 


Table  No.  71. 

INDUSTRIAL  ACCIDENTS— NUMERICAL  ORDER. 


Ages  1912 

1.  30  to  40  years .  74 

2.  20  to  30  years .  63 

3.  40  to  50  years .  38 

4.  50  to  60  years .  34 

5.  10  to  20  years .  17 

6.  60  to  70  years .  10 

7.  70  to  80  years .  3 

8.  Under  10  years .  3 

9.  Not  ascertained .  9 


Ages 

1913 

1. 

20  to  30  years . 

.  61 

2. 

30  to  40  years . 

.  56 

3. 

40  to  50  years . 

.  40 

4. 

50  to  60  years . 

.  34 

5. 

10  to  20  years . 

. 14 

6. 

60  to  70  years . 

.  9 

7. 

Under  10  years . 

.  7 

8. 

70  to  80  years . 

.  3 

9. 

Not  ascertained . 

.  14 

Total 


251 


Total 


238 


Table  No.  72. 

CAUSES  OF  DEATH. 


1912 


1.  Falling  off  his  own  w'agon .  40 

2.  Falling  objects .  37 

3.  Falling  off  scaffold .  30 

4.  Falling  down  elevator  shaft .  23 

5.  Caught  in  machinery .  18 

6.  Killed  in  elevator .  17 

7.  Explosion .  17 

8.  Electrocution .  14 

9.  Falling  down  ladder .  13 

10.  Suffocated  by  gases .  11 

11.  Scalded  by  hot  water .  11 

12.  Falling  from  building .  6 

13.  Falling  from  roof .  3 

14.  Falling  from  airship .  3 

15.  Smothered  in  bin .  2 

16.  Burned  by  metal .  1 

17.  Falling  from  telephone  pole .  1 

18.  Falling  from  bridge .  1 

19.  Falling  out  of  window .  1 

20.  Smothered  in  smokestack .  1 

21.  Smothered  in  glucose  car .  1 


1913 


1.  Falling  objects .  49 

2.  Falling  off  own  wagon .  36 

3.  Caught  in  machinery .  28 

4.  Falling  off  scaffold .  25 

5.  Killed  in  elevator .  21 

6.  Explosion  . .  16 

7.  Electrocution .  15 

8.  Falling  down  elevator  shaft .  12 

9.  Falling  down  ladder .  10 

10.  Scalded  by  hot  w^ater .  7 

11.  Kicked  by  horse.- .  7 

12.  Burned  by  metal .  4 

13.  Falling  from  biplane .  3 

14.  Building  collapse .  2 

15.  Falling  in  culvert .  2 

16.  Falling  off  bridge . • .  2 

17.  Falling  through  skylight .  1 

18.  Falling  from  smokestack .  1 

Total . 238 


251 


Total 


106 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Table 

INDUSTRIAL  ACCIDENTS 

1912 


1.  Americans .  75 

2.  Germans .  27 

S.  Russians .  23 

4.  Austrians .  23 

5.  Irish .  16 

6.  Bohemians . 12 

7.  Norwegians .  11 

8.  Polish .  11 

9.  Swedes .  11 

10.  Italians .  7 

11.  Hungarians .  6 

12.  French .  4 

13.  Greeks .  3 

14.  Danes .  3 

15.  Scotch .  3 

16.  Belgians .  2 

17.  English .  2 

18.  Hollanders .  2 

19.  Roumanians .  2 

20.  Canadians .  1 

21.  Turks .  1 

22.  Not  ascertained .  6 


Total .  251 


No.  73. 

IN  ORDER  OF  NATIVITY. 

1913 


1.  Americans .  98 

2.  Germans .  34 

3.  Russians .  23 

4.  Austrians .  16 

5.  Italians .  10 

6.  Hungarians .  9 

7.  Irish .  8 

8.  Swedes .  8 

9.  Polish .  7 

10.  Canadians .  5 

1 1 .  English .  4 

12.  Bohemians .  3 

13.  Greeks .  2 

14.  Norwegians .  2 

15.  Roumanians .  2 

16.  Africans .  1 

17.  Bulgarians . .  1 

18.  Danes .  1 

19.  Palestine .  1 

20.  Not  ascertained .  3 


Total .  238 


Table  No.  74. 

INQUESTS  PER  NATIONALITY  IN  ORDER  OF  POPULATION  FOR  1913. 


Nativity  Population  Inquest 

1.  Americans .  967,455  2,003 

2.  Germans .  300,000  522 

3.  Bohemians .  250,000  91 

4.  Russians .  215,000  175 

5.  Polish .  115,000  102 

6.  English .  105,000  86 

7.  Italians .  85,000  130 

8.  Africans .  85,000  53 

9.  Austrians .  83,201  243 

10.  Norwegians .  75,000  58 

11.  Irish .  65,922  242 

12.  Swedes .  63,035  153 

13.  Canadians . 30,865  71  . 

14.  Hungarians .  27,496  74 

15.  Danes .  25,000  26 

16.  Scotch .  10,303  23 

17.  Welsh .  10,000  .  3 

18.  Hollanders .  9,632  14 

19.  Greeks .  6,601  25 

20.  Swiss .  3,493  5 

21.  Roumanians . 3,344  5 

22.  Bulgarians .  3,315  4 

23.  French .  3,030  7 

24.  Spanish .  3,000  2 

25.  Belgians .  2,526  5 

26.  Finns . • .  2,382  5 

27.  Turks .  1.885  4 

28.  Mexicans .  1,790  2 

29.  Palestines .  1,000  1 


This  table,  giving  the  inquests  for  1913,  shows  at  a  glance  the  order 
of  the  various  nationalities  according  to  the  population  of  each  in  Cook 
County.  It  will  be  seen  that  Americans  stand  first,  the  Germans  second, 
Bohemians  third,  and  so  on  through  the  list.  In  the  third  column  is  given 
the  number  of  inquests  per  nationality,  in  order  that  the  reader  may  have 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


107 


before  him  the  data  from  which  to  make  comparisons.  By  comparing  this 
with  the  tables  following,  it  will  be  seen  at  once  that  the  nationalities 
having  the  largest  population  do  not  necessarily  have  the  highest  percen¬ 
tage  of  inquests.  For  example,  Germans  stand  second  in  order  of  popu¬ 
lation  and  thirteenth- in  the  order  of  percentage  of  inquests,  a  record  which 
seems  to  show  that  the  Germans  are  a  comparatively  careful,  cautious  race. 


Table  No.  75. 

INQUESTS  PER  NATIONALITY  IN  ORDER  OF  PERCENTAGE  FOR  1913. 

Per  ct.  per 


Nativity 

Population 

No.  of  Inquests 

Nativity 

1. 

Greeks . 

.  6,601 

25 

.38 

p>er  ct. 

2. 

Irish . 

.  65,922 

242 

.37 

U 

3. 

Austrians . 

.  83,201 

243 

.29 

U 

4. 

Hungarians . 

.  27,496 

74 

.27 

u 

5. 

Swedes . 

.  63,035 

153 

.24 

a 

6. 

Canadians . 

.  30,865 

71 

.23 

a 

7. 

French . 

.  3,030 

7 

.23 

u 

8. 

Scotch . 

.  10,303 

23 

.22 

a 

9. 

Turks . 

.  1,885 

4 

.21 

u 

10. 

Finns . 

.  2,382 

0 

.21 

a 

11. 

Americans . 

.  967,455 

2,003 

.21 

u 

12. 

’  Belgians . 

.  2,526 

5 

.2 

a 

13. 

Germans . 

.  300,000 

522 

.17 

u 

14. 

Hollanders . 

.  9,632 

14 

.15 

u 

15. 

Italians . 

.  85,000 

130 

.15 

u 

16. 

Roumanians . 

.  3,344 

5 

.15 

u 

17. 

Bulgarians . 

.  3,315 

4 

.12 

u 

18. 

Mexicans . 

.  1,790 

2 

.11 

u 

19. 

Swiss . 

.  3,493 

5 

.14 

u 

20. 

Danes . 

.  25,000 

26 

.1 

u 

21. 

Palestines . 

.  1,000 

1 

.1 

m 

22. 

Poles . 

.  115,000 

102 

.09 

u 

23. 

English . 

.  105,000 

86 

.08 

4« 

24. 

Norwegians . 

.  75,000 

58 

.08 

U 

25. 

Russians . 

.  215,000 

175 

.08 

u 

26. 

Spanish . 

.  3,000 

2 

.07 

u 

27. 

Africans . 

.  85,000 

53 

.06 

tf 

28. 

Bohemians . 

.  250,000 

91 

.04 

tf 

29. 

Welsh . 

.  10,000 

3 

.03 

a 

This  table  gives  the  population  of  the  nationalities  that  supplied  cases 
to  the  Coroner’s  office  during  1913.  The  second  column  shows  the 
population  of  each;  the  third  column  gives  the  number  of  inquests  of  each 
nationalit}’^ ;  the  last  column  indicates  the  per  cent  of  inquests  according 
to  the  population.  That  is,  taking  the  first  nationality  in  the  list  as  an 
illustration,  the  estimated  population  of  Greeks  in  Cook  County  is  6,601; 
the  inquests  held  upon  Greeks  were  25,  which  is  .38  per  cent  of  the  local 
Greek  population. 

This  table  is  also  arranged  to  show  at  a  glance  how  the  various  nation¬ 
alities  rank  according  to  the  per  cent  of  inquests  to  population.  It  will 
be  seen  that  the  Greeks  come  first,  the  Irish  second,  and  the  remainder  in 
order  as  indicated.  The  figures  here  presented  in  relation  to  the  popula¬ 
tion  of  each  nationality  are  as  accurate  as  could  be  obtained  from  all  au¬ 
thorities  at  hand.  Their  value  in  this  instance  lies  chiefly  in  supplying 
a  foundation  upon  which  to  build  a  more  accurate  structure  in  future  re¬ 
ports. 


108 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


PRINCIPAL  NATIONALITIES  IN  THEIR  ORDER  PER  10,000 

POPULATION 

Nationalities  represented  by  very  few  inquests  are  here  omitted  for 
the  sake  of  brevity. 

In  the  following  three  tables  is  shown  in  connection  with  the  total 
inquests,  total  suicides  and  homicides,  respectively,  the  number  in  each 
10,000  population  of  each  nationality  that  became  Coroner’s  cases.  In 
order  that  the  reader  may  have  the  complete  data  before  him  we  have 
given  in  the  second  column  the  population  of  each  nationality,  in  the  third 
column  the  number  of  inquests  per  each  nationality,  and  in  the  fourth  col¬ 
umn  the  number  per  io,ooo  that  became  Coroner’s  cases.  These  tables 
are  arranged  numerically  in  the  order  of  the  number  per  io,ooo. 


Table  No.  76. 


1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 
9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 


Nativity 
Greeks . 


French. 


5  PER  10,000  POPULATION. 

ts. 

No.  of  Cases 

Population 

Inquests 

per  10,000 
Population 

6,601 

25 

37.9 

65,922 

242 

36.7 

83,201 

243 

29.2 

27,496 

74 

26.9 

63,035 

153 

24.3 

3,030 

7 

■  23.3 

30,865 

71 

23.0 

967,455 

2,003 

20.7 

300,000 

522 

17.4 

85,000 

130 

15.3 

115,000 

102 

8.8 

105,000 

83 

8.2 

215,000 

175 

8.1 

75,000 

58 

7.7 

85,000 

53 

6.2 

250,000 

91 

3.6 

Table  No.  77. 


Nativity 


1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 


French. 
Canadii 
Greeks . 


!  PER  10,000 

es. 

POPULATION. 

No.  of  Suicides 

Population 

Suicides 

per  10,000 
Population 

27,496 

15 

5.5 

83,201 

41 

4.9 

63,035 

23 

3.4 

,  300,000 

109 

3.6 

3,030 

1 

3.3 

,  30,865 

9 

2.9 

6,601 

2 

3.0 

,  967,455 

225 

2.3 

,  85,000 

13 

1.5 

,  65,922 

9 

1.3 

215,000 

28 

1.3 

75,000 

10 

1.3 

250,000 

24 

1.0 

105,000 

11 

1.0 

115,000 

7 

.6 

85,000 

5 

.6 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


109 


Table  No.  78. 

NATIVITY  RECORD  FOR  1913  PER  10,000  POPULATION. 

Homicides. 

No.  of  Murders 


Nativity 

Population 

Homicides 

per  10,000 
Population 

1. 

Italians . 

.  85,000 

35 

4.1 

2. 

French . 

.  3,030 

1 

3.3 

3. 

Greeks . 

.  6,601 

2 

3.0 

4. 

Hungarians . 

.  27,496 

7 

2.6 

5. 

Irish . 

.  65,922 

14  ■ 

2.1 

6. 

Americans . 

.  967,455 

112 

1.2 

7. 

Austrians . 

.  83,201 

7 

.8 

8. 

Africans . 

.  85,000 

6 

.7 

9. 

Polish . 

.  115,000 

7 

.6 

10. 

Canadians . 

.  30,865 

2 

.6 

11. 

Russians . 

.  215,000 

11 

.5 

12. 

Germans . 

.  300,000 

12 

.4 

13. 

Norwegians . 

.  75,000 

3 

.4 

14. 

Swedes . 

.  63,035 

2 

'  .3 

15. 

English . 

.  105,000 

2 

.2 

16. 

Bohemians . 

.  250,000 

1 

.4 

INQUESTS,  SUICIDES  AND  HOMICIDES.  NATIVITY 

PERCENTAGE  TABLES. 

The  three  following  tables  show  what  per  cent  of  the  total  number  of  in¬ 
quests,  suicides  and  homicides  respectively  are  credited  to  each  nationality. 
Each  is  arranged  numerically  in  order  of  percentages.  The  second  column 
shows  the  number  supplied  by  each  nationality,  and  the  third  column  what 
per  cent  this  number  is  of  the  total  number  of  cases  under  each  class.  To 
illustrate,  in  1913  there  was  a  total  of  4,385  inquests;  the  Russians  fur¬ 
nished  175  of  these,  this  being  3.99  per  cent  of  the  total  number  of  inquests. 
Following  the  record  of  the  Russians  through  the  next  two  tables,  we  see 
that  the  total  number  of  suicides  was  572.  Of  these  28  were  Russians, 
which  is  4.89  per  cent  of  the  total  number  of  suicides;  the  total  number 
of  homicides  was  233,  of  which  ii  were  Russians,  this  being  4.72  per  cent 
of  the  total  number  of  homicides.  It  will  be  noted  that  these  tables  do  not 
take  into  account  the  population  of  each  nationality,  being  given  in  order 
to  show  how  the  various  nationalities  rank  in  comparison  with  each  other 
in  each  class  of  Coroner’s  cases  considered  here.  These  tables  include  only 
the  principal  nationalities  represented  in  our  records. 


Table  No.  79. 


COMPARISON  IN  PERCENTAGE  OF  EACH  NATIONALITY  WITH  THE 

TOTAL  NUMBER  OF  INQUESTS.  1913 


Nativity 


1.  Americans. 

2.  Germans.  . 

3.  Austrians. . 

4.  Irish . 

5.  Russians . . . 

6.  Swedes . 

7.  Italians.... 

8.  Polish..... 

9.  Bohemians. 

10.  English.... 

11.  Hungarians 

12.  Canadians. 

13.  Norwegians 

14.  Africans... 

15.  Greeks.  .  . . 

16.  French .  .  .  . 


Total  Number  of  Inquests  for  1913,  4,385. 


Inquests 

Per  Cent  of 
Total 

2,003 

Inquests 
45.68  per  ct 

522 

11.9 

243 

5.54 

242 

5.52 

175 

3.99 

153 

3.49 

130 

2.96 

102 

2.33 

91 

2.08 

86 

1.96 

74 

1.69 

71 

1.62 

58 

•1.32 

53 

1.2 

25 

.57 

7 

.16 

110 


BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  vSORRY 


Table  No.  8o. 


1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 
9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 


COMPARISON  IN  PERCENTAGE  OF  EACH  NATIONALITY  WITH  THE 
TOTAL  NUMBER  OF  SUICIDES  IN  1913. 


Nativity 


Total  Number  of  Suicides,  672. 

Suicides 


Per  Cent 
Total  Suicides 


Americans . 
Germans.  . 
Austrians.  . 
Russians . . . 
Bohemians . 
Swedes .... 
Hungarians 
Italians .... 
English .... 
Norwegians 
Canadians . 

Irish . 

Polish . 

Africans .  .  . 
Greeks .... 
French .... 


225 

39.34  per  ct. 

109 

19.05 

M 

41 

7.17 

U 

28 

4.89 

U 

24 

4.19 

u 

23 

4.02 

u 

15 

2.62 

u 

13 

2.27 

M 

11 

1.92 

M 

10 

1.75 

U 

9 

1.57 

U 

9 

1.57 

m 

7 

1.22 

u 

5 

.87 

u 

2 

.35 

u 

1 

.17 

u 

Table  No.  8i. 


COMPARISON  IN  PERCENTAGE  OF  EACH  NATIONALITY  WITH  THE  TOTAL 

NUMBER  OF  HOMICIDES  IN  1913. 


Total  Number  of  Homicides  in  1913,  233. 


N  ati  vity 

1.  Americans. 

2.  Italians _ 

3.  Irish . 

4.  Germans.  . 

5.  Russians . . . 

6.  Austrians .  . 

7.  Hungarians 

8.  Polish . 

9.  Africans.  .  . 

10.  Norwegians 

11.  Swedes .  .  .  . 

12.  English . . .  . 

13.  Canadians . 

14.  Greeks .  .  .  . 

15.  Bohemians. 

16.  French .  .  .  . 


Homicides 

...  112 
.  .  .  35 

.  .  .  14 

.  . .  12 
.  .  .  11 
7 
7 
7 
6 
3 
2 
2 
2 
2 
1 
1 


Per  Cent  of 
Total  Homicides 

48.07  per  ct. 

15.02 

6.01 

5.15 

4.72 

3.0 

3.0 

3.0 

2.58 

1.29 

.86 

.86 

.86  “ 

.86 

.43 

.43 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


Ill 


The  Coroner's  Office 

▼▼ 

By  DAVID  R.  JONES, 

Chief  Deputy. 

The  duty  of  the  Chief  Deputy  Coioner  corresponds  to  that  of  office 
manager,  the  Chief  Deputy  having  supervision  of  the  daily  routine  of  busi¬ 
ness,  with  all  the  powers  of  the  Coroner  himself  during  his  absence. 

The  records  of  this  office  date  back  to  the  time  of  the  great  fire  in  1871, 
the  vault  now  containing  files  of  some  71,000  cases,  41,692  of  which  belong 
to  the  period  since  Coroner  Hoffman  took  his  office,  December  6,  1904. 

The  employes  of  this  office  coming  directly  under  the  charge  of  the 
Chief  Deputy  are  as  follows: 

10  Deputy  Coroners. 

4  Office  Clerks. 

7  Court  Reporters. 

4  Coroner’s  Physicians. 

2  Chemists. 

I  Statistician. 

3  At  Morgue. 

Among  the  improvements,  reforms  and  changes  which  have  been  in¬ 
troduced  into  this  office  by  Coroner  Hoffman  during  the  past  nine  years 
are: 

1.  A  complete  change  in  the  system  of  handling  reports  of  deaths  as 
they  come  to  the  office  by  phone  or  otherwise,  their  systematic  enrollment 
upon  a  blotter  as  the  first  “original  entry,”  including  a  rotation  system  of 
assigning  these  cases  to  the  various  deputies. 

2.  Mr.  Hoffman’s  order  book  system  and  his  method  of  issuing 
certified  copies  of  verdicts  to  friends  and  relatives  of  the  deceased,  fre¬ 
quently  of  great  value  to  the  families  of  poor  workingmen  in  obtaining 
justice  in  the  event  of  court  procedure. 

3.  The  introduction  of  a  special  cash  book  showing  daily  balances, 
copies  of  which  are  sent  to  the  County  Comptroller  each  day,  a  systematic 
method  never  employed  in  this  office  under  prior  administrations. 

4.  The  origin  of  the  most  complete  statistical  records  and  tables 
especially  designed  to  suggest  remedies  to  lessen  loss  of  life  and  increase 
public  safety  must  be  attributed  to  this  office  under  the  present  adminis¬ 
tration. 

.  5.  The  introduction  of  time  sheets  turned  in  by  each  deputy,  sup¬ 
plying  a  record  daily,  weekly  and  monthly  of  how  each  deputy  has  oc¬ 
cupied  his  time  and  what  duties  he  has  performed. 

6.  The  taking  and  recording  of  testimony  verbatim  in  shorthand 
and  transcribing  same  as  apart  of  the  record  of  each  case,  is  a  plan  which 
went  into  effect  in  January,  1908,  and  is  a  system  which  in  numberless  cases 
has  enabled  the  families  of  the  deceased  to  ol)tain  justice  through  the  courts. 

7.  The  arrangement  to  have  Coroner’s  juries  make  recommendations 
looking  toward  the  prevention  of  similar  accidents  is  unique  in  the  history 
of  Coroners’ offices  in  this  country.  This  system  was  introduced  by  Cor¬ 
oner  Hoffman  in  1907,  and  it  has  not  only  reduced  deaths  in  Cook  County 


112 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


The  “Estates”  of  Those  who  Meet  Sudden  and  Violent  Deaths. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


113 


from  certain  kinds  of  accidents  fully  one  hundred  per  year,  but  it  has  been 
the  means  of  bringing  the  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook 
County  into  existence,  with  the  general  crusade  for  public  safety  which  has 
followed. 

8  The  institution  of  a  night  service  up  to  1 1  :oo  o’clock  for  receiving 
reports  has  added  greatly  to  the  efficiency  of  the  service. 

9.  A  valuable  improvement  in  public  service  has  developed  from  the 
Coroner’s  plan  to  keep  the  office  open  365  days  in  the  year  from  7:30  A.  M. 
to  II  :oo  P.  M.  on  week  days,  and  on  Sundays  from  8:00  A.  M.  to  10:00  P. 
M.,  the  clerks  and  deputies  rotating  so  as  to  properly  divide  the  respon¬ 
sibility  and  reduce  the  extra  work  to  a  minimum  for  all. 

10  The  introduction  of  a  card  index  system  giving  immediate  access 
to  all  the  details  of  each  case,  and  the  record  of  cases  wherein  physicians 
issue  death ’certificates  without  holding  inquests,  has  greatly  facilitated 
the  work  of  this  office. 

11.  Our  investigation  blank,  now  used  when  Coroner’s  physicians 
are  sent  out  to  investigate  deaths  from  any  form  of  disease,  has  been  of 
great  aid  in  furthering  co-operation  with  other  departments.  In  these 
cases  the  Coroner’s  physician  issues  death  certificates  in  duplicate,  one 
copy  going  to  the  Health  Department,  the  other  being  kept  on  file  in  this 
office,  thus  insuring  complete  records  for  both. 

12.  Another  of  the  new  features  in  the  Coroner’s  office  is  the  keeping 
of  the  record  book;  the  history  of  every  case  is  typewritten  in  this  book  by 
the  use  of  a  special  machine  made  to  operate  on  the  plane  surface  of  the 
page,  this  record  being  so  clear  and  accurate  as  to  make  important  facts 
in  connection  with  every  case  accessible  at  a  moment’s  notice. 

13.  There  has  also  been  established  in  connection  with  the  Coroner’s 
office  a  Bureau  of  Identification.  Here  are  kept  photographs  enabling 
relatives  and  friends  to  identify  the  unknowm  dead  wffiose  disappearance 
might  otherwise  always  remain  an  unsolved  mystery.  This  Bureau  is  of 
benefit  both  in  its  legal  aspect  and  in  affording  comfort  and  assurance 
to  the  bereaved.  The  photographs  for  the  Bureau  are  supplied  by  the 
County  Photographer,  who  is  notified  in  each  case  of  sudden  and  violent 
death  of  unidentified  persons.  The  illustrations  in  this  book  of  children 
and  others  that  were  scalded  and  burned  through  carelessness  are  also 
made  from  photographs  supplied  by  the  County  Photographer. 

14.  The  assistance  given  this  office  by  the  Chief  of  Police  and  a  num¬ 
ber  of  his  subordinates  is  a  great  aid  to  the  Coroner  service,  and  due 
acknowledgment  is  hereby  made  to  that  department  of  the  city  govern¬ 
ment,  which  desreves  much  credit  for  thus  materially  increasing  efficiency 
in  the  public’s  behalf. 

15.  The  establishment  of  a  chemical  laboratory  in  the  month  of 
June,  1913,  in  charge  of  competent  chemists  has  added  materially  to  the 
efficiency  of  the  office,  for  it  not  only  enables  prompt  and  reliable  analyses 
to  be  made  in  cases  of  suspected  poisoning,  but  frequently  makes  it  pos¬ 
sible  to  place  reliable  data  before  Coroner’s  juries  in  relation  to  industrial 
and  other  classes  of  accidents,  that  is  of  inestimable  value  in  rendering 
just  verdicts. 


RECORD  OF  “ESTATES’^  AND  LOCKER. 

One  of  the  most  beneficent  and  humanitarian  innovations  inaugurated 
in  the  administration  of  this  office  is  the  complete  record  of  the  small 
estates  of  the  large  number  of  unfortunates  who  meet  sudden  or  violent 
deaths,  the  personal  property  of  more  than  half  of  whom  remains  forever 
uncalled  for.  The  vault  in  which  this  personal  property  is  kept  has  gained 


114 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


some  fame  through  the  press  and  otherwise  under  the  title  of  “Davy  Jones’ 
Locker,”  and  while  the  per  capita  value  is  small,  averaging  only  $1.35 
each  at  the  last  sale  in  January,  1912,  the  record  is  as  carefully  kept  as  though 
it  involved  countless  thousands.  When  these  estates  are  called  for  by  rel¬ 
atives  they  are  always  turned  over  to  them  on  proper  identification,  their 
receipt  being*  taken  therefor.  Since  January,  1912,  417  out  of  a  total  of 
782  estates  left  with  the  Chief  Deputy  Coroner  still  remain  uncalled  for, 
and  after  a  time  when  the  accumulation  becomes  too  great,  a  public  sale 
will  be  advertised  and  the  proceeds  turned  over  to  the  County  Treasurer, 
though  even  after  this,  relatives  up  to  a  period  of  five  years  may  still  obtain 
the  proceeds  of  the  sale.  w 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  no  institution  or  department  of  modern  times 
has  been  subjected  to  closer  scrutiny  in  the  line  of  making  improvements 
or  has  adopted  more  progressive  changes  than  are  found  in  this  office, 
these  changes  involving  increased  efficiency  in  the  system  of  reporting 
cases  or  filing  permanent  records,  facilitating  examination  by  the  most 
up-to-date  card  index  systems,  all  records  now  showing  the  name  of  the 
deceased,  residence,  age,  cause  and  place  of  death,  person  reporting,  person 
receiving  report,  notification  of  police  and  of  corporation  if  one  is  inter¬ 
ested,  name  of  deputy,  the  physician  assigned,  time  of  holding  inquest  and 
if  continued,  to  what  date,  etc.  The  order  book  originated  by  the  Coroner 
for  taking  and  keeping  a  record  of  certified  copies  and  testimony  for  in¬ 
surance  and  legal  purposes  now  shows  a  record  of  death  certificates  num¬ 
bered  from  I  up  to  14,774,  and  is  a  most  complete  and  simple  method 
for  facilitating  the  business  of  the  office 

Considering  the  strenuous  and  continuous  character  of  the  work  of 
this  office,  I  beg  to  report  that  our  efficiency  has  been  seriously  handicapped 
by  the  reduction  of  the  office  force,  which  is  thus  inadequate  to  keep  up  the 
clerical  work,  making  it  necessary  to  overwork  the  deputies  in  securing  the 
services  of  one  or  more  of  them  to  keep  up  the  work  of  the  office.  The 
same  may  be  said  of  our  court  reporters,  the  number  being  insufficient  to 
make  assignments,  except  for  the  most  important  cases,  and  many  con¬ 
tinuations  are  made  necessary  for  lack  of  court  reporters  to  cover  assign¬ 
ments,  causing  much  inconvenience  to  all  concerned  and  a  considerable 
additional  expense  to  the  county.  As  the  reporters  are  obliged  to  trans¬ 
cribe  their  shorthand  notes  in  each  case,  so  that  they  may  become  a  part  of 
the  records  of  this  office,  they  are  obliged  to  work  exceptionally  long  hours 
and  be  constantly  kept  from  two  to  three  weeks  behind  in  transcribing, 
which  is  a  great  detriment  to  public  service.  Not  only  is  the  number  of 
reporters  allowed  this  office  too  few,  even  with  the  long  hours  they  are 
obliged  to  work,  but  the  salaries  paid  are  inadequate  for  the  services 
rendered. 

One  of  the  most  important  positions  in  this  office  is  that  of  statistician, 
and  it  is  necessary  to  have  a  high  grade  man  not  only  capable  of  properly 
recording  and  classifying  fatalities  under  their  many  headings  and  keeping 
the  records  up  to  date  in  relation  to  all  the  cases  as  they  come  in,  besides 
compiling  the  Annual  Report,  but  it  is  a  science  in  itself  to  formulate  and 
compile  these  records  in  a  manner  that  will  make  “figures  TALK”  and 
thereby  teach  the  lessons  of  the  Coroner’s  office  in  a  way  that  will  make 
them  of  the  highest  service  in  saving  lives  in  the  future.  The  renumera¬ 
tion  for  statistician  is  so  low  that  it  will  be  impossible  to  secure  the  kind  of 
service  required  for  another  year  at  the  present  appropriation. 

As  to  our  deputy  coroners,  the  number  assigned  is  not  only  an  in¬ 
justice  to  the  men  on  account  of  the  labor  involved,  but  is  it  impossible  to 
give  the  best  service  when  cases  are  running  from  twenty  to  thirty  per  day. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


115 


The  position  of  deputy  coroner  is  an  important  one  and  requires  men  not 
only  of  judicial  mind,  executive  ability  and  kindly  temperament,  all  re¬ 
quisite  in  the  selection  of  jurors,  the  questioning  of  witnesses  and  the  con¬ 
duct  of  cases,  but  honesty,  courtesy  and  sympathy  are  the  marked  re¬ 
quisites  in  those  who  conduct  inquests,  as  well  as  natural  breadth  of  mind, 
a  knowledge  of  human  nature  and  of  local  conditions. 

The  appeal  to  the  sympathies  in  much  of  the  duties  involved  in  the 
work  of  the  deputies,  their  concentration  of  mind  in  the  interest  of  all  con¬ 
cerned,  the  distances  traveled  at  their  own  expense,  the  frequent  long, 
tedious  inquests,  all  serve  to  inflict  a  wear  and  tear  on  both  mind  and  body 
that  should  be  fully  considered  in  determining  the  number  of  deputies  to 
be  employed  and  the  appropriation  for  their  service.  The  fact  that  four 
deputies  in  succession  have  given  out  prematurely  under  the  nervous 
strain  proves  the  necessity  for  careful  consideration  in  the  matter  of  fixing 
their  number  and  adjusting  their  salaries. 

In  the  Coroner’s  general  report  is  given  a  statement  showing  the  great 
increase  in  the  number  of  cases  where  certificates  are  issued  without  in¬ 
quest.  This  class  of  cases  has  now  increased  to  the  point  wLere  the  Coro¬ 
ner’s  physicians  are  crowded  night  and  day  to  keep  up  with  the  work,  and 
this  increase  will  shortly  necessitate  an  addition  to  the  corps  of  Coroner’s 
physicians. 

In  conclusion,  I  am  pleased  to  testify  to  the  uniform  co-operation  of 
the  employes  and  officials,  not  only  within  the  Coroner’s  office,  but  those 
connected  with  other  city  and  county  departments  with  whom  I  am  brought 
in  contact  in  carrying  on  the  business  of  this  office;  and  considering  the 
strenuous  character  of  our  labors,  am  pleased  to  state  that  our  system  is  so 
well  organized  that  the  work  is  turned  out  with  the  smallest  amount  of  fric¬ 
tion  possible. 


116 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  vSORRY 


Department  of  Statistics 

▼▼ 

By  PARKER  H.  SERCOMBE, 

Siatistician. 

It  is  a  law  of  life  and  nature,  thoroughly  established  among  birds  and 
animals  and  well  borne  out  in  the  life  of  man,  that  each  generation  profits 
by  the  experiences  of  those  preceding,  each  epoch  adopting  improvements 
based  upon  knowledge  derived  from  the  experience  of  those  gone  before. 

The  musk  ox  of  the  north  and  the  bison  of  the  temperate  zone  have  as 
a  result  of  generations  of  battles  with  wolves  and  panthers,  learned  by  ex¬ 
perience  to  form  a  circle  with  their  young  in  the  center,  which  as  long  as  it 
can  be  kept  unbroken  makes  an  impossible  barrier  against  the  attack  of 
enemies.  It  is  thus  seen  that  even  animals  make  a  study  of  conservation, 
and  from  generation  to  generation  apply  the  knowledge  that  they  acquire 
by  the  experiences,  mistakes,  failures  and  suffering  of  those  who  fell  through 
ignorance,  lack  of  organization,  recklessness  or  heedlessness. 

It  is  but  natural,  then,  that  the  Coroner’s  office,  the  department  tak¬ 
ing  charge  of  those  who  go  to  sudden  and  violent  deaths  largely  the  result  of 
carelessness,  thoughtlessness  and  a  lack  of  foresight,  should  become  the 
“storm  center”  for  a  great  crusade  in  the  interest  of  public  safety;  and  this 
being  the  particular  epoch  in  which  there  is  a  world  wide  awakening  to  the 
tremendous  loss  of  life  and  limb,  it  is  therefore  timely  that  the  Coroner’s 
office  of  Cook  County  should  load  its  heaviest  guns,  which,  like  those  of 
Winchester,  shall  speak  in  tones  that  will  be  “heard  ’round  the  world.” 

It  is  with  a  sense  of  tremendous  responsibility,  realizing  that  hu¬ 
manity,  like  all  other  creatures,  learns  its  lessons  through  costly  experiences, 
that  these  records  are  being  carefully  and  accurately  kept,  the  experiences 
involved  in  a  total  of  41,692  Coroner’s  cases  in  nine  years  being  sufficient 
to  awaken  all  from  their  lethargy  to  at  least  become  as  alert  as  beasts  and 
birds,  which  organize  for  self-protection.  The  suffering  through  loss  of  life 
and  limb  which  humanity  annually  brings  upon  itself  through  its  own 
carelessness — and  this  especially  in  large  cities,  supposed  to  be  the  very 
centers  of  civilization — has  become  so  serious  that  this  book  is  being  sent 
out  as  an  appeal  to  check  the  mad  race  in  which  we  are  engaged.  Read 
the  records  in  this  book  and  then  decide  what  shall  be  done  through  the 
coming  years  to  lessen  the  awful  catastrophes  herein  recorded. 

To  repeat,  this  book  is  intended  as  a  shock  to  humanity,  as  a  class  book 
in  the  hands  of  every  teacher,  a  slogan  to  be  sounded  from  every  pulpit,  a 
war  cry  to  go  out  through  the  columns  of  the  daily  papers,  urging  an  unre¬ 
mitting  crusade  for  public  safety;  demanding  that  every  child,  adult  and 
corporation  in  the  land  shall  hereafter  “stop,  look  and  listen”  before  carry¬ 
ing  themselves  and  others  headlong  into  danger. 

The  time  was  when  a  large  percentage  of  our  race  were  annually  lost 
by  storms,  famines,  the  ravages  of  wild  beasts  and  marauding  tribes,  and 
while  modern  research,  invention  and  appliances  have  almost  entirely 
done  away  with  the  old  dangers,  by  a  strange  mockery  of  fate  these  very 
inventions  and  machines  that  have  come  to  safeguard  us  seem  to  be  de¬ 
stroying  a  larger  percentage  than  were  ever  lost  under  more  primitive  condi¬ 
tions. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


117 


In  the  wars  of  history,  the  number  of  maimed  and  wounded  has  always 
been  far  in  excess  of  those  killed,  and  it  is  surely  a  blot  on  our  civilization 
as  we  contemplate  the  dead  and  wounded  of  our  industrial  army  in  time  of 
peace  in  the  United  States  to  find  that  35,000  are  killed  and  2,000,000 
maimed  annually  in  industrial  accidents  alone.  In  Chicago  twenty  thous¬ 
and  accidents  a  year  are  recorded  by  the  Police  Department,  and  as  less 
than  two-thirds  are  reported,  the  real  total  is  fully  thirty  thousand,  while 
.more  than  five  thousand  sudden  and  violent  deaths  per  annum  come  to 
the  Coroner’s  office  for  inquest. 

It  is  simply  plain  common  sense  to  state  that  a  community  of  careless, 
thoughtless  persons  will  have  a  large  number  of  accidents  and  casualties, 
whereas  a  community  of  careful,  thoughtful  people  who  teach  foresight 
and  precision  to  their  offspring  from  childhood  up,  will  have  a  smaller 
percentage  of  accidents,  and  it  is  natural  that  this  kind  of  education  must 
be  carried  on  in  the  home  as  well  as  in  the  school. 

There  are  some  10,000  fires  per  annum  in  Chicago,  which  is  but  another 
phase  of  general  carelessness  and  thoughtlessness,  and  any  system  of  edu¬ 
cation  that  will  help  us  to  be  thoughtful  and  careful  in  the  home,  on  the 
street,  in  factories  and  in  our  recreations,  will  naturally  lessen  fires  and 
accidents  of  all  kinds. 

The  household  casualties  alone  in  Chicago  during  1912  is  an  appalling 
exhibit  to  lay  at  the  door  of  the  department  charged  with  implanting 
habits  of  carefulness,  thoughtfulness  and  thoroughness  in  our  next  genera¬ 
tion,  and  a  comparison  of  the  following  tables  shows  a  total  of  more  fatali¬ 
ties  in  the  homes  than  on  the  streets  during  1912.  These  figures  are  from 
the  records  of  the  Coroner’s  office  and  the  Police  Department. 


Table  No.  82. 


ACCIDENTS  AND  FATALITIES  IN  THE  HOMES. 

1912. 


209  accidental  asph'yxiations . . . 

34  accidental  cuttings . . 

59  accidental  and  undetermined  poison .  .*  ■ . .  T .  - 

430  bitten  by  dogs . . . 

399  burns  and  scalds . 

310  falling  down  stairs . 

84  falling  out  of  windows . 

56  falling  from  ladder . 

28  falling  from  chair . . 

47  firearm  accidents . 

27  ptomaine  poisoning . . 

132  suffocated  and  smothering . 

208  unclassified . 

243  exposure  and  neglect . 

561  attempted  and  fatal  suicides . 

1,392  personal  violence  and  homicides . 


of  which  102  were  fatal 


%  M 

a 

2 

a 

a 

M 

^  u 

50 

a 

u 

a 

u 

2 

u 

u 

u 

u 

187 

a 

u 

u 

u 

92 

a 

a 

u 

u 

42 

a 

a 

u 

a 

24 

u 

a 

u 

u 

4 

u 

u 

u 

u 

9 

a 

u 

u 

a 

2 

a 

u 

u 

a 

16 

a 

u 

u 

a 

9 

u 

u 

u 

u 

9 

tt 

a 

a 

u 

162 

u 

u 

u 

u 

78 

u 

u 

805 


Table  No.  83. 


ACCIDENTS  AND  FATALITIES  OF  THE  STREETS. 

1912.  . 


3,664  street  railway  accidents . 

2,947  automobile  and  vehicle  accidents . 

2,510  falls  on  the  street  from  scaffold,  building,  etc 

855  bitten  by  dogs . 

1,044  miscellaneous  injuries . 

556  overcome  by  heat, . . ‘ . 

350  injured  while  at  w’orlc . 

109  accidentally  shot  by  self  or  others . 

184  cause  of  violence  undetermined . 

79  attempted  and  fatal  suicides . 

1,642  personal  violence  and  homicides . 

52  struck  by  falling  objects . 

63  exposure . 


of 

which  209 

were 

fatal 

tf 

“  201 

44 

U 

u 

“  54 

44 

tt 

a 

“  5 

41 

44 

u 

-  42 

41 

tt 

u 

“  10 

U 

tt 

tf 

-  21 

m 

tt 

tf 

“  13 

<4 

tt 

41 

“  20 

44 

« 

a 

“  23 

a 

m 

a 

“  118 

44 

tt 

a 

“  12 

44 

u 

a 

“  4 

if 

m 

7.'^2 

118 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  vSORRY 


THE  STOCK  YARDS  FIRE,  DECEMBER  23,  1910. 

Searching  for  Chief  Horan  and  22  Bodies  of  Firemen  Lost  under  the  Falling  Walls. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


119 


The  conditions  illustrated  by  tho  foregoing  exhibit,  as  well  as  by  the 
records  that  follow,  are  no  credit  to  modern  civilization.  The  array  of 
blundering  accidents  exhibited  in  the  foregoing,  as  well  as  in  the  following 
tables,  might  be  expected  of  a  primitive  race,  uncultivated  in  the  refine¬ 
ments  of  life,  yet  “modern  education,”  with  these  figures  calling  loudly  for 
corrective  measures,  continues  teaching  almost  exclusively  from  books, 
while  so  large  a  percentage  of  the  population  is  slowed  down  by  lack  of 
proper  training  and  by  wrong  living  that  they  fall  under  car  wheels  and 
out  of  windows  by  the  thousands  annually,  like  dolls  stuffed  with  sawdust, 
maiming  and  killing  each  other  year  after  year  as  stupidly  and  with  as 
little  profit  as  if  we  had  no  educational  institutions. 


Table  No.  84. 

ONE  YEAR  IN  CHICAGO. 


3,664  street  railway  accidents . . 

2,947  automobile  and  vehicle  accidents 
2,899  falls  from  windows,  ladders,  etc. . 

1,285  bitten  by  dogs.  .  . . 

829  steam  railway  accidents . 

1,694  miscellaneous  accidents . 


of  which  209  were  fatal 


u 

u 

201 

a 

u 

u 

u 

149 

u 

u 

a 

u 

7 

u 

u 

u 

a 

326 

u 

u 

a 

u 

42 

u 

u 

On  every  count  the  remedy  lies  in  a  remodeled  system  of  education 
for  the  rising  generation  that  will  implant  habits  of  carefulness  and  thor¬ 
oughness  adaptable  to  whatever  calling  each  may  be  devoted  in  adult  life. 

We  know  that  in  1914  approximately  1,000  people  in  Cook  County 
will  attempt  suicide,  that  of  these  about  583  will  succeed,  and  that  there 
are  about  12,000  people  contemplating  suicide  all  the  time,  a  percentage 
of  whom  with  the  constant  accretions  will  form  the  suicide  rolls  of  the 
coming  years.  So  uniform  is  the  operation  of  the  natural  law  which  con¬ 
trols  the  fate  of  mankind  that  we  know  under  present  conditions  that  in 
1914  and  until  new  educational  systems  have  a  chance  to  take  effect,  about 
150  will  suicide  by  poisoning,  of  whom  90  will  use  carbolic  acid,  15  corro¬ 
sive  sublimate,  7  cyanide  of  potassium,  6  arsenic,  etc.  While  it  is  impos¬ 
sible  to  name  the  unfortunates,  we  know  too  that  with  the  present  popu¬ 
lation  and  until  our  social,  economic  and  educational  systems  undergo 
fundamental  change,  each  year  approximately  140  will  suicide  by  shooting, 
120  by  asphyxiation,  60  by  hanging,  24  by  stabbing,  20  by  drowning  and 
14  by  jumping  out  of  windows.  Sociologists  agree  that,  barring  hereditary 
tendencies,  suicide  is  practically  preventable  by  a  system  of  education 
designed  to  implant  a  proper,  democratic,  wholesome  viewpoint  from 
childhood  up. 

Suicide  and  homicide  are  directly  attributable  to  our  faulty  social, 
economic  and  educational  systems,  and  will  yield  to  treatment  just  to  the 
extent  that  we  substitute  modern  wholesome  democratic  ideals  in  educa¬ 
tion  for  the  traditional  methods  and  viewpoints  that  have  held  over  a  cen¬ 
tury  too  long.  Those  who  have  not  the  vision  to  see  that  suicides,  murders 
and  accidents  are  the  natural  outcroppings  of  wrongs  being  perpetrated 
by  those  “higher  up”  cannot  perhaps  be  made  to  understand  how  educa¬ 
tion  can  be  employed  to  do  away  with  both  the  causes  and  the  effects  in¬ 
volved. 

The  following  total  of  accidents  by  falling  is  of  particular  interest  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  this  proportion  has  been  maintained  in  Chicago  for 
the  past  ten  years,  relatively  is  the  same  this  year,  and  will  continue  in  the 
same  ratio  and  proportion  in  1914,  1915  and  1916  unless  prompt  measures 
are  employed  to  change  the  educational  systems  in  schools  and  homes: 


120 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Table  No.  85. 


131  falling 

TOTAL  ACCIDENTS 

from  scaffolds . 

BY  FALLING  IN  1912. 

. of  which 

30  were  fatal 

125 

U 

from  ladder . 

U 

a 

37 

a 

a 

369 

u 

down  stairs . 

u 

a 

92 

u 

u 

135 

a 

out  of  windows . 

a 

u 

43 

u 

u 

33 

u 

from  roof  or  skylight . 

u 

u 

3 

u 

u 

94 

u 

in  new  building . 

a 

u 

6 

a 

u 

1,376 

u 

on  street  or  sidewalk . 

u 

a 

50 

u 

u 

57 

a 

down  elevator  shaft . 

u 

u 

23 

u 

u 

562 

u 

from  wagon . 

u 

u 

40 

u 

u 

38 

u 

from  horse . 

a 

u 

6 

u 

u 

782 

a 

from  other  causes . 

a 

u 

33 

u 

a 

3,702  total  accidents  from  falling . 

<( 

u 

363 

u 

u 

It  be^ng  conceded  that  all  human  casualties  as  well  as  all  our  successes 
are  forms  of  “rriomentum,”  though  in  opposite  directions,  one  set  of  move¬ 
ments  tending  toward  progress  and  the  other  toward  destruction,  true 
reform  and  prevention  of  evil  of  all  kinds,  the  prerogative  of  our  educational 
system,  must  be  so  geared  and  adjusted  as  to  actually  implant  constructive 
momentum  in  the  line  of  physical,  mental  and  social  efficiency  to  stem  the 
tide  of  destruction  which  we  seem  now  to  be  preparing  as  a  bequest  to 
future  generations.  Could  an  educational  system  so  modified  be  set  into 
operation  among  the  half  million  teachers  and  pupils  of  Cook  County, 
it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  records  of  crime,  graft,  accidents,  premature  deaths, 
etc.,  might  be  decreased  fifty  per  cent  within  an  incredibly  short  time. 

The  figures  and  tables  on  which  such  a  system  of  education 
would  be  based  is  the  theme  of  this  report,  for  as  all  progress  involving 
thoughtfulness,  accuracy  and  precision  in  the  doing  of  things  must  rest 
upon  education  plus  regulation,  it  is  apparent  that  it  is  through  higher 
standards  of  mental  and  physical  efficiency,  coupled  with  the  enforcing  of 
needful  laws  and  ordinances,  that  the  goal  of  public  safety  and  the  con¬ 
servation  of  human  life  may  be  reached. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


121 


The  Chemical  Laboratory 

▼T 

By  WILLIAM  DUNCAN  McNALLY, 

Coroner  s  Chemist. 


The  chemical  laboratory  annexed  to  this  office  by  Coroner  Hoffman 
in  June,  1913,  is  an  innovation  that  will  no  doubt  eventually  be  adopted 
by  Coroners  in  all  other  populous  counties  in  the  country.  Mr  Hoffman’s 
long  experience  as  Coroner  convinced  him  of  the  value  of  having  a  special 
laboratory  for  making  investigations,  especially  into  all  cases  of  sudden  and 
suspicious  deaths,  and  determining  by  chemical  analysis  whether  there 
were  indications  of  poisons  accidentally  taken  or  administered  with  homici¬ 
dal  or  suicidal  intent. 

The  matter  of  procuring  expert  chemical  analyses  from  private  labora¬ 
tories  for  each  individual  case  was  formerly  almost  prohibitive  because  of 
the  cost,  and  there  were  so  many  cases  in  which  the  evidence  pointed  so 
feebly  to  willful  or  malicious  poisoning  that  under  the  old  system  a  large 
number  of  cases  which  should  have  been  investigated  were  passed  over. 
With  our  present  well  equipped  laboratory  all  doubts  are  promptly  cleared, 
leaving  no  stone  unturned  in  the  search  for  the  true  cause  of  death,  and 
this  greater  efficiency  is  at  an  expense  infinitely  lower  than  under  the 
former  system,  when  the  services  of  private  laboratories  were  enlisted  in  a 
few  marked  cases  only. 

Our  experience  in  the  work  already  shows  clearly  that  the  percentage 
of  cases  that  would  have  been  entirely  passed  over  under  the  old  system 
is  almost  equally  important  from  the  standpoint  of  results  obtained,  as 
the  pronounced  cases  in  connection  with  which  investigations  were  invari¬ 
ably  made,  and  the  variety  of  work  now  accomplished  in  this  laboratory 
is  of  so  wide  a  scope,  many  questions  being  solved  and  statistical  records 
compiled  which  could  be  obtained  in  no  other  way,  as  to  fully  justify 
the  Coroner  in  adding  this  department.  A  case  in  point  is  the  death  of 
Mr.  B.,  who  after  a  night’s  debauch  had  taken  morphine,  a  habit  to  which 
he  was  addicted,  in  a  quantity  which  for  him  would  have  been  safe  except 
for  the  fact  that  with  the  morphine  he  took  a  dose  of  acetanilid,  the 
latter  drug  so  increasing  the  toxic  effect  of  the  former  as  to  cause  death 
On  autopsy,  both  drugs  were  found  in  the  body,  though  not  a  sufficient 
amount  of  either  one  to  cause  death  if  administered  without  the  presence 
of  the  other. 

The  Coroner’s  laboratory  has  rendered  valuable  service  to  the  police 
department  and  to  the  office  of  the  State’s  Attorney  in  the  examination  of 
knives,  wearing  apparel,  earth  and  stones,  to  discover  the  presence  of 
human  blood,  which  can  be  readily  differentiated  from  other  blood  when 
sufficient  material  is  submitted;  and  an  alphabetically  arranged  index  is 
maintained  of  all  cases,  with  the  findings  in  each.  In  all  cases  where  the 
material  submitted  permits,  portions  of  organs,  clothing  stained  with  blood 
or  seminal  fluid,  are  preserved  and  held  as  evidence. 

'  Recently  a  sudden  death  occurred  from  cerebral  hemorrhage,  and  our 
pathologist  could  find  no  condition  to  warrant  the  hemorrhage,  and  so 


122 


BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  vSORRY 


The  Coroner’s  Chemical  Laboratory 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


123 


suspected  gas  poisoning.  A  sample  of  blood  was  sent  to  our  laboratory,  and 
examination  justified  the  suspicion,  carbon  monoxide  being  found. 

The  most  common  source  of  carbon  monoxide  is  its  production  in 
ordinary  coal  stoves,  grates,  furnaces  and  illuminating  gas.  It  is  the  pro¬ 
duct*  of  the  incomplete  combustion  of  carbon,  due  to  insufficient  supply  of 
air.  Carbon  monoxide  when  pure  is  colorless,  tasteless  and  practically 
odorless,  this  latter  physical  property  making  it  especially  dangerous  as  a 
source  of  poisoning. 

Our  usual  source  of  asphyxiation  is  through  the  medium  of  illuminat¬ 
ing  gas,  which  has  the  odor  of  the  hydrocarbons  which  accompany  carbon 
monoxide,  but  this  does  not  prevent  many  accidental  poisonings,  as  the 
odor  may  not  be  perceived  by  those  in  deep  sleep  or  by  persons  with  a 
defective  sense  of  smell. 

The  number  of  accidental  and  suicidal  poisonings  in  large  cities  from 
carbon  monoxide  now  exceeds  that  of  poisoning  by  any  other  agency.  In 
Cook  County  alone  our  records  show  a  steady  increase  in  death  by  such 
asphyxiation : 


Table  No.  86. 

1910  1911  1912  1913 


Accidental .  127  103  110  148 

Undetermined .  65  66  61  64 

Suicidal .  116  115  153  163 

By  water  heaters .  4  7  10  1 


Total .  312  291  334  376 


The  proportion  of  carbon  monoxide  varies  greatly,  from  four  to  ten 
per  cent  in  coal  gas  to  thirty-five  per  cent  in  water  gas.  Almost  all  illumi¬ 
nating  gas  contains  a  large  proportion  of  water  gas,  so  that  when  this  gas  is 
discharged  into  inhabited  space  it  becomes  exceedingly  dangerous.  An 
atmosphere  containing  two-tenths  per  cent  of  carbon  monoxide  is  cap¬ 
able  of  destroying  life.  The  delicacy  of  this  poison  is  shown  by  the 
case  of  two  workmen  who  were  overcome  by  the  fumes  arising  from  a  pile 
of  burning  cinders,  beside  which  they  sat  to  eat  their  lunch  in  the  open  air. 
Sufficient  of  the  fumes,  even  so  diluted,  was  inhaled  to  cause  the  death  of 
one  of  them,  and  the  other  was  resuscitated  with  difficulty.  From  this  it 
is  clear  how  great  care  should  be  observed  to  prevent  gas  poisoning  in  homes 
through  the  medium  of  incomplete  combustion  or  leaks  from  stoves  or  gas 
pipes. 

Carbon  monoxide  combines  chemically  with  the  haemo-globin  of  the 
blood  to  form  a  stable  compound.  The  blood  corpuscles  thus  lose  their 
power  to  carry  oxygen,  and  produce  a  condition  similar  to  internal  asphyxia, 
the  nutriment  of  all  the  tissues  being  impaired.  In  cases  of  poisoning 
from  gas  the  patient  should  immediately  be  removed  to  a  pure  atmosphere 
and  given  inhalations  of  pure  oxygen.  Everyone  should  adopt  the  Safety 
First  idea  and  insist  that  all  gas  stoves  and  plates  be  connected  by  metal 
instead  of  rubber  tubing,  that  a  pipe  should  lead  from  the  gas  stove  to  the 
flue,  so  that  in  case  of  a  leak  or  “dropping  back”  of  a  burner  the  poisonous 
gases  may  be  carried  out.  Not  only  fires,  but  many  lives  can  be  saved 
by  careful  attention  to  these  points. 

The  numerous  cases  of  accidental  and  suicidal  poisonings  with  bichlo¬ 
ride  of  mercury  make  it  imperative  that  there  should  be  a  more  stringent 
enforcement  of  the  law  regarding  the  sale  of  poisons.  The  Coroner’s 
recommendation  of  a  law  that  all  poisons  be  placed  only  in  bottles  of  pe¬ 
culiar  shape,  with  porcupine  or  serrated  edges,  so  as  to  be  felt  in  handling  in 
the  dark  as  well  as  in  the  light,  will  go  far  toward  eliminating  the  present 


124 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


record  of  accidental  poisoning.  In  Cook  County  during  the  past  year 
there  were  six  deaths  from  bichloride  of  mercury  poisoning,  besides  numer¬ 
ous  other  accidental  poisonings,  that  could  have  been  entirely  avoided  by 
the  use  of  SAFETY  bottles  with  serrated  edge. 

The  great  similarity  in  appearance  of  bichloride  of  mercury  tablets,  as 
to  shape,  color  and  size,  to  those  of  aspirin,  lithia  and  alkaline  antiseptic 
tablets,  makes  it  imperative  that  all  mercury  and  other  poisonous  tablets 
should  be  made  up  with  coloring  matter  and  be  shaped  by  some  irregular 
pattern,  to  constantly  impress  the  individual,  nurse  or  clerk  with  the  reali¬ 
zation  that  he  is  handling  a  poisonous  drug.  This  suggestion,  coupled 
with  that  of  having  Safety  Containers,  would  eliminate  most  of  the  acci¬ 
dental  poisonings. 


Table  No.  87. 

SPECIMENS  ANALYZED  IN  THE  CORONER’S  LABORATORY  FROM  JUNE 

TO  NOVEMBER  30,  1913. 


Abortifacients .  9 

Acetanilid .  1 

Alcohol .  3 

Arsenic .  2 

Benzine .  1 

Bichloride  of  mercury . 1 

Blood,  examination  of,  for  carbon  monoxide .  6 

Blood,  examination  for  human .  22 

Bone,  identification  of .  1 

Creosote .  1 

Cyanide .  1 

Disinfectant,  complete  analysis .  1 

Drugs,  complete  for  all  poisons .  39 

Morphine .  1 

Poisons,  complete  analysis  of  organs .  15 

Semen  from  a  rape  case .  1 

Strychnine .  2 

Water,  complete  analysis  for  all  poisons .  2 

Roach  powder . 1 

Stomach  contents .  3 

Food,  for  poisons .  4 

Urine .  4 

Powder  marks .  2 

Total .  123 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


125 


The  Court  Reporting  Department 

▼  T 

By  SIGMUND  S.  TARSKI, 

Chief  Court  Reporter. 

This  valuable  adjunct  of  the  Coroner’s  office  was  organized  in  the 
early  part  of  1908  by  the  addition  of  one  court  reporter  to  the  Coroner’s 
staff,  and  has  been  gradually  increased  until  the  nimber  at  the  present  time 
is  seven.  Previous  to  1908  all  the  evidence  in  the  Coroner’s  office  was 
taken  in  longhand,  but  in  that  year  the  Coroner  was  instrumental  in  having 
a  law  passed  dispensing  with  signatures  of  the  witnesses  to  the  testimony, 
only  requiring  the  testimony  to  be  certified  to  by  a  competent  shorthand 
reporter. 

The  Coroner  recognized  that  it  is  most  important  in  civil  suits  that 
those  interested  in  the  facts  surrounding  the  death  should  have  a  full  tran¬ 
script  of  the  testimony,  accessible  not  only  to  the  defendant  but  also  to  the 
heirs  at  law  and  next  of  kin,  who  heretofore  had  been  obliged  to  rely  upon 
meager  statements  and  in  a  large  measure  suffer  loss  of  much  legal  evidence. 
In  a  great  many  cases  the  relatives  of  the  poor  unfortunates  who  met 
death  were  financially  embarrassed  and  could  not  afford  to  pay  for  a  court 
reporter  or  even  a  lawyer  at  the  time  of  the  inquest.  After  they  recovered 
from  the  shock  and  secured  counsel,  if  the  cases  were  not  taken  in  shorthand 
they  would  suffer  the  loss  of  much  evidence. 

In  homicide  cases  this  shorthand  testimony  is  most  essential  to  the 
State’s  Attorney  in  working  up  his  cases  for  trial.  Carbon  copies  are  made 
of  every  transcript,  and  are  accessible,  free  of  charge,  to  anyone  interested 
in  the  case. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  the  work  done  by  this  department  for  the 
years  1912  and  1913: 

Table  No.  88. 

Number  of  cases,  1912 . 1,298  Number  of  pages,  1912 . 33,393 

Number  of  cases,  1913 . 1,634  Number  of  pages,  1913 . .  .44,885 


126 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


A  Day  in  the  Coroner's  Office 

Below  is  given  what  may  be  considered  a  typical  day  in  the  Coroner’s 
office.  The  telephone  calls  begin  at  about  7  .-30  in  the  morning,  reporting 
cases,  and  continue  until  eleven  at  night,  although  the  calls  do  not  end  here, 
as  the  Coroner  himself  is  invariably  called  up  at  his  home  after  the  office 
closes,  having  been  aroused  as  many  as  fifteen  times  in  a  single  night  to 
receive  these  reports,  and  it  is  a  common  matter  for  him  to  be  called  from 
the  table  two  or  three  times  during  a  meal.  The  person  receiving  these 
messages  of  sudden  and  violent  deaths  gets  as  complete  data  of  the  case 
as  is  possible  from  the  one  reporting  over  the  telephone.  In  accordance 
with  the  system  of  assigning  the  deputy  coroners  to  cases,  as  described 
elsewhere  in  this  report,  a  deputy  is  assigned  to  each  case,  by  far  the  larger 
part  of  the  cases  reported  being  taken  care  of  on  the  same  day  as  reported. 
If  the  nature  of  the  case  requires  it,  one  of  the  staff  of  court  reporters 
accompanies  the  deputy  coroner  in  order  to  take  the  testimony  which 
becomes  part  of  the  record  of  the  case  kept  on  file  in  the  office. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  deputy  coroner  to  collect  his  jury  and  to  take 
the  evidence  on  the  case  and  make  record  of  it  for  the  permanent  files  of  the 
office,  the  verdict  of  the  jury  being  rendered  after  the  evidence  has  been 
presented.  The  time  necessary  to  devote  to  a  case  varies  from  possibly 
an  hour  to  half  a  day  or  even  longer, with  the  necessity  on  occasional  cases 
for  a  continuance  in  order  to  secure  more  evidence  or  go  more  fully  into 
some  phase  of  the  matter.  Cases  are  frequently  continued  to  a  later  date 
in  order  that  there  may  be  a  court  reporter  to  take  the  evidence,  one  not 
being  available  at  the  time  of  the  first  hearing.  The  average  time  for  con¬ 
ducting  an  inquest  would  perhaps  fall  between  two  and  three  hours. 

The  following  cases  are  taken  fron  the  actual  resords,  and  are  typical 
of  those  reported  and  taken  care  of  by  the  Coroner’s  office  day  after  day, 
the  year  through: 

Baby,  age  10  days,  smothered  in  bed  clothing. 

Mary  C.,  16  years,  telephone  operator,  knocked  down  and  run  over  by 
automobile. 

Charles  S.,  22  years,  railroad  fireman,  run  over  by  engine. 

Clara  D.,  49  years,  housewife,  fell  down  stairs. 

William  O.,  36  years,  machinist,  suicide  by  inhaling  illuminating  gas 
while  temporarily  insane. 

James  H.  S.,  46  years,  accidental  asphyxiation. 

Martha  K.,  23  years,  housewife,  septicaemia,  due  to  an  abortion. 

Clara  E.  P.  54  years,  suicide  by  shooting. 

Ethel  W.,  3  years,  scalds,  due  to  pulling  pan  of  hot  water  off  table. 

Emma  S.,  25  years,  seamstress,  suicide  by  inhaling  illuminating  gas 
on  account  of  being  despondent. 

Giuseppe  D.,  45  years,  street  cleaner,  struck  and  run  over  by  auto¬ 
mobile  truck. 

Otto  J.,  46  years,  porter  (saloon),  delirium  tremens. 

James  D.,  55  years,  operator,  organic  heart  disease  and  chronic  Bright’s 
disease,  alcoholic. 

Elizabeth  H.,  35  years,  housewife,  homicide  by  incised  wound  of  the 
neck. 

Albert  C.,  19  years,  machinist,  caught  and  crushed  in  machinery. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


127 


The  Need  of  Public  Safety  Instruction  in  the  Schools. 


128 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


After  the  Crib  Disaster. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


129 


George  S.,  46  years,  driver’s  helper,  accidental  fall  from  wagon. 

Hanna  O.,  32  years,  housewife,  septicaemia  following  abortion. 

George  W.  S.,  38  years,  laborer,  accidentally  fell  into  elevator  shaft. 

James  H.  C.,  39  years,  laborer,  run  over  by  street  car. 

Katherine  M.,  32  years,  homicide  by  shooting. 

James  F.,  34  years,  hodcarrier,  delirium  tremens. 

John  R.,  28  years,  teamster,  suicide  by  shooting. 

Lusan  B.,  24  years,  car  worker,  struck  by  railway  engine. 

Edward  T.,  17  years,  railroad  laborer,  run  over  by  freight  car. 

Frank  O.,  22  years,  laborer,  exposure  due  to  the  extreme  cold. 

Andrew  K.,  24  years,  laborer,  septic  infection  following  gunshot 
wounds. 

Carl  T.,  20  years,  janitor,  fell  down  elevator  shaft. 

Jesse  J.  C.,  69  years,  mail  clerk,  hit  by  automobile  while  crossing 
street  from  behind  street  car  from  which  he  had  alighted. 

Stanislaus  S.,  44  years,  woodworker,  fell  over  iron  railing,  distance 
of  ten  feet,  to  pavement. 

Barbara  S.,  26  years,  housewife,  septicaemia  following  abortion  due 
to  strain  from  heavy  lifting. 

Harry  B.,  2  years,  scalds  from  falling  into  bucket  of  hot  suds  sitting 
on  floor. 

Nellie  K.,  5  years,  bums  due  to  playing  with  matches. 

John  W.,  10  years,  struck  and  run  over  by  street  car  while  crossing 
in  middle  of  block. 


130 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Some  Typical  Coroner's  Cases 

The  deputy  coroners  have  no  need  to  read  the  mysteries  of  fiction 
nor  witness  problem  plays  on  the  stage,  for  in  the  routine  of  their  regular 
duties  from  day  to  day  they  are  confronted  with  more  of  the  “problem” 
element  of  life,  more  that  is  strange,  weird  and  mysterious  than  the  wildest 
imagination  could  picture.  In  addition  to  these  elements  they  must  also 
face  the  fact  over  and  over  again  that  tragedy  and  death  might  have  been 
averted  if  only  just  a  little  carefulness,  a  little  foresight  had  been  exercised. 
The  following  brief  stories  have  been  supplied  by  the  deputies  from  their 
actual  experiences,  and  are  thoroughly  typical  of  the  continuous  stream  of 
cases  that  flow  through  this  office  from  one  year’s  end  to  the  other: 

The  Crib  Disaster —  * 

All  Chicago  remembers  how  by  the  explosion  of  a  thousand  pounds 
of  dynamite  in  the  hands  of  an  inexperienced  and  uninstructed  workman, 
seventy-nine  lives  were  lost  in  midwinter  to  the  intake  crib.  The  photo¬ 
graph  on  the  opposite  page  shows  a  portion  of  the  debris  and  some  of  the 
officers  called  to  the  scene  at  the  time.  It  will  be  remembered  that  these 
seventy-nine  were  buried  together  in  South  Chicago  in  one  great  L-shaped 
grave,  it  being  impossible  for  .friends  or  relatives  to  identify  any  of  their 
own,  though  they  knew  they  were  there.  To  obviate  deaths  from  a  similar 
cause,  the  Coroner  recommended  an  ordinance,  which  was  passed,  making 
it  compulsory  that  all  those  who  handle  high  explosives,  giant  powder, 
dynamite,  etc.,  must  first  secure  a  permit  and  demonstrate  their  knowl¬ 
edge  and  qualifications  for  this  dangerous  and  responsible  work.  The  crib 
disaster  is  one  of  the  most  costly  lessons  the  people  of  Chicago  have  ever 
received. 

The  Folly  of  Making  a  Clothes  Horse  of  a  Gas  Fixture — 

Mrs.  A.,  returning  to  her  home  tired  and  worn  out  from  a  forenoon’s 
shopping  trip,  placed  her  wrap  upon  a  wall  gas  bracket  in  her  bedroom,  and 
lay  down  for  a  quiet  rest.  A  large  Newfoundland  dog,  companion  and 
guardian,  also  lay  down  upon  a  rug  at  the  side  of  the  bed.  Several  hours 
later  the  husband  coming  home  found  both  wife  and  dog  lying  dead.  In¬ 
vestigation  disclosed  that  the  collar  of  the  lady’s  wrap  had  partially  opened 
the  valve  of  the  fixture  allowing  gas  to  escape,  causing  asphyxiation. 

A  similar  case  was  that  of  a  locomotive  engineer  arriving  home  about 
noon,  tired  out  from  a  long  run.  After  lunch  with  his  wife  he  retired  to 
an  upper  bedroom  for  a  nap.  He  was  found  thirty  minutes  later,  asphyx¬ 
iated  by  gas  and  dead.  It  was  discovered  that  the  deceased  had  taken  off 
his  collar  and  tie,  throwing  them  over  the  arm  of  the  gas  fixture  suspended 
from  the  ceiling,  accidentally  opening  the  gas  valve. 

The  Treachery  of  Old  Lake  Michigan — 

There  is  always  danger  of  cramps  to  the  hardiest  and  most  experienced 
swimmer.  A  young  Norwegian  of  strong  fibre  and  a  good  swimmer 
planned  a  trip  to  Norway  to  see  the  old  folks.  All  arrangements  were 
made,  steamer  ticket  purchased  and  the  day  fixed  for  his  departure.  The 
evening  before,  a  farewell  party  was  held  in  his  honor  at  a  home  near  the 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


131 


lake  shore.  About  2:00  A.  M.,  in  a  spirit  of  adventure  a  challenge  was 
made  by  one  of  the  party  for  a  swim  in  the  lake.  The  challenge  was  ac¬ 
cepted  and  a  run  to  the  water  was  made  by  the  young  men.  The  hardy 
Norseman,  unafraid,  disrobed  and  sprang  head  foremost  into  the  icy 
water.  His  life  paid  the  penalty. 

Burns  to  Cause  Death  Need  Not  Cover  Large  Area — 

Mrs.  B.  cooked  some  starch,  hardly  a  pint,  for  her  small  wash,  placing 
it  in  a  pan  outside  the  door  on  the  walk  to  cool.  She  did  not  think  of  the 
danger  any  more  than  did  her  baby  daughter,  who,  toddling  along  the  walk, 
upset  the  starch  and  fell  into  it,  sustaining  iDurns  which  caused  her  death. 
Nor  was  the  danger  under  somewhat  similar  circumstances  appreciated 
by  another  mother  who  placed  a  vessel  containing  a  small  quantity  of 
scalding  hot  water  in  the  kitchen  sink,  within  reach  of  the  youngest  of  the 
household,  a  child  of  two  years,  who  reached  up  her  chubby  hands  and 
pulled  the  vessel  over,  so  that  the  contents  spilled  down  on  her  shoulders 
and  trunk,  causing  untold  suffering  and  eventual  death. 

Danger  in  Anything  Inflammable — 

A  little  three-year-old  got  hold  of  a  “Christmas  sparkler,”  supposed 
to  be  absolutely  safe,  and  held  it  while  it  sparkled.  The  metal  holder 
became  red  hot  and  the  little  one  placed  it  against  the  dress  of  her  big  sister, 
who  stood  at  the  table  ironing.  It  ignited  her  clothing  and  she  burned 
to  death. 

In  an  open  space  back  of  a  big  manufacturing  plant  the  company 
was  accustomed  to  burning  old  wagons,  etc.,  in  order  to  get  rid  of  the  wood 
and  sell  the  iron.  The  man  employed  to  do  this  work  was  supposed 
always  to  make  sure  that  the  fire  was  out  before  leaving  it.  Children  some¬ 
times  came  there  to  play  and  to  pick  up  kindling.  He  was  careless.  One 
day  the  fire  had  burned  down  and  seeming  to  be  only  a  mass  of  dead  ashes, 
the  caretaker  left  without  precautions  to  insure  that  it  was  entirely  out. 
A  little  girl  came  to  pick  up  wood.  The  wind  blew  a  live  coal  against 
her  dress,  setting  it  on  fire  and  she  was  burned  to  death. 

Three  Errors — One  Death — 

A  north-bound  car  had  stopped  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  street.  Mrs. 
G.  crossed  at  the  rear  of  the  car  in  the  middle  of  the  block.  A  south-bound 
automobile  instead  of  passing  the  car  on  the  west,  crossed  and  passed  on 
the  other  side.  As  Mrs  G.  came  from  behind  the  car  she  was  struck  by 
the  automobile  and  died  from  her  injuries.  There  were  three  distinct 
errors — the  woman  crossing  in  the  middle  of  the  block,  the  street  car  stop¬ 
ping  on  the  far  side,  and  the  automobile  running  on  the  wrong  side  of  the 
street. 

A  Mental  Lapse — 

‘  A  street  car  on  its  last  trip  at  11:30  P.  M.  on  South  Western  avenue 
telescoped  a  lighted  car  standing  at  the  end  of  the  line  near  71st  street, 
the  motorman  being  killed  in  the  collision.  He  had  stopped  the  car  prop¬ 
erly  to  let  passengers  off  at  69th  street,  a  little  more  than  one  block  from 
the  end  of  the  line,  but  speeded  up  to  about  fifteen  miles  an  hour,  a  fact 
that  caused  witnesses  to  remark  that  he  was  going  too  fast  to  make  the  stop 
in  the  necessary  distance.  When  about  six  feet  from  the  empty  car  at  the 
end  of  the  line,  he  suddenly  threw  the  lever  and  put  on  the  brakes,  but  it 


132 


BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  SORRY 


was  too  late  and  his  life  was  forfeited.  Inquiry  developed  the  facts  that 
he  was  a  man  of  good  habits,  that  he  did  not  drink,  that  he  had  not  been 
working  overtime,  that  he  had  operated  on  this  same  line  for  three  years, 
and  that  the  mechanism  of  the  car  was  not  defective.  The  only  possible 
explanations  were  that  either  this  was  a  case  of  gas  pressure  in  the  stomach 
causing  auto-intoxication  from  a  wrong  combination  of  foods,  or  a  sudden 
case  of  absent-mindedness  while  reflecting  on  some  personal  problems. 
The  motorman’s  rugged  physical  condition  was  a  bar  to  his  being  classed 
as  a  neurasthenic,  and  no  evidence  was  deduced  to  indicate  epilepsy  or  any 
other  form  of  inhibiting  spasms. 

An  Avoidable  Accident — • 

The  death  of  Charles  L.,  a  young  fireman  only  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  in  one  of  the  railway  yards,  resulted  from  a  switching  accident  in  which 
a  locomotive  was  backing  on  a  lead  track  when  a  box  car  by  signal  was 
‘‘kicked”  down  upon  the  same  track,  signals  being  reversed,  but  not  in 
time  to  avert  the  collision.  In  this  case  the  Coroner’s  jury  recommended 
the  passage  of  a  law  making  it  illegal  for  cars  to  be  switched  onto  a  lead 
track  already  in  use,  for  notwithstanding  watchfulness  and  signals,  ac¬ 
cidents  of  this  kind  will  frequently  occur  unless  this  practice  is  done  away 
with  entirely. 

Wood  Alcohol  Claims  Five — 

A  post  mortem  on  the  body  of  a  man  brought  to  the  morgue  developed 
the  fact  that  he  had  died  from  wood  alcohol  poisoning.  While  the  inquest 
was  being  held  a  second  man  was  brought  in  from  the  same  place,  he  too 
having  died  from  the  same  cause.  The  Deputy  conducting  the  case  was 
unable  to  get  any  information  from  the  two  witnesses,  although  he  was 
convinced  that  they  had  knowledge  of  the  matter,  and  in  fact  told  them 
that  they  appeared  to  be  suffering  from  the  same  poison  and  that  the  truth 
from  them  might  make  it  possible  to  s^ve  their  lives.  They  would,  how¬ 
ever,  tell  him  nothing,  and  he  finally  had  them  locked  up  pending  the  time 
when  they  were  willing  to  tell  what  they  knew.  In  the  meantime  a  third 
man  who  had  been  one  of  the  party,  and  who  had  taken  a  train  out  of  the 
city,  died  on  the  train  from  the  effects  of  w^ood  alchhol.  Within  twenty- 
four  hours  the  two  witnesses  also  died,  one  of  them  making  a  statement 
just  before  death  to  the  effect  that  the  five  of  them  had  broken  into  a  store 
and  secured  among  other  things  a  quantity  of  what  they  supposed  was  grain 
alcohol,  but  which  proved  to  be  wood  alcohol,  and  of  which  they  all  drank. 

Carbon  Monoxide  Poisoning — 

An  inquest  was  being  held  on  the  body  of  Mrs.  M.,  in  the  kicchen  of 
her  own  home,  she  having  been  found  dead  on  the  floor  of  her  bath  room, 
supposedly  from  heart  disease,  there  being  no  odor  of  gas  to  indicate  as¬ 
phyxiation.  The  deputy  coroner  conducting  the  case  having  had  expe¬ 
rience  in  such  matters  and  observing  a  cat  rubbing  against  the  leg  of  the 
table,  without  comment  put  the  cat  in  the  bathroom  and  closed  the  door  and 
went  on  with  the  case.  After  questioning  several  witnesses  whose  testi¬ 
mony  would  indicate  their  belief  in  the  theory  of  heart  disease,  the  deputy 
opened  the  bathroom  door,  and  there  before  the  eyes  of  the  jury  lay  the  cat 
dead  on  the  floor,  demonstrating  that  here  was  one  of  those  cases  of  carbon 
monoxide  poisoning  frequently  resulting  in  Chicago  from  imperfect  com¬ 
bustion  of  instantaneous  water  heaters  which  were  formerly  placed  in  bath- 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


133 


Burned  by  Tipping  over  Kettle  of  Scalding  Water — Died  Three  Days  Later 


134 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


rooms  without  a  vent  pipe  leading  out  of  doors.  Hence  the  jury  returned 
a  verdict  to  this  effect. 

No  Vent  Pipe  from  Water  Heater — 

Mr.  B.,  a  thrifty  young  man  of  twenty-five,  proprietor  of  a  restaurant 
in  the  town  of  Cicero,  slept  in  a  bedroom  in  the  rear  of  the  establishment 
in  order  that  he  might  supervise  the  place  both  night  and  day.  Connected 
with  the  bedroom  was  a  bathroom  equipped  with  an  instantaneous  water 
heater,  which  if  located  in  the  city  of  Chicago  would  by  law  have  been 
equipped  with  a  vent  pipe  to  carry  its  fumes  to  the  open  air.  After  closing 
up  on  this  evening,  Mr.  B.  prepared  to  take  a  bath.  The  water  and  gas 
were  turned  on,  and  sitting  on  a  low  stool  when  he  had  barely  finished  un¬ 
dressing,  he  was  overcome  by  the  carbon  monoxide  gas  and  was  there  found 
the  next  morning  by  his  employes.  This  life  could  have  been  saved,  had 
the  authorities  of  Cicero  followed  the  recommendations  of  this  office  and 
passed  a  law  making  it  compulsory  to  fit  water  heaters  with  vent  pipes. 

Boiled  in  a  Bath — 

A  middle-aged  traveling  man  stopping  at  a  prominent  downtown 
hotel,  prepared  to  take  a  bath  before  retiring.  Evidence  showed  that  he 
apparently  lay  down  in  the  tub  and  turned  on  the  hot  water,  and  be¬ 
came  unconscious  from  some  cause.  The  tub  filled  with  the  boiling  water 
to  the  level  of  the  overflow  pipe,  and  the  door  of  his  room  being  locked  on 
the  inside,  was  not  forced  open  until  two  days  later,  when  the  remains 
were  found  with  the  flesh  scarcely  adhering  to  the  bones. 

Unwarranted  Recklessness — 

Lewis  B.,  a  youth  of  nineteen,  became  intoxicated,  and  his  friend, 
George  K.,  also  somewhat  exhilarated,  took  his  revolver  from  him  as  a 
matter  of  precaution.  Entering  a  saloon  where  both  had  previously  been 
drinking,  he  joked  with  the  bartender  about  his  chum’s  condition  and 
showed  him  the  loaded  pistol.  A  porter  engaged  in  sweeping  the  floor 
bantered  him  about  his  marksmanship,  and,  placing  an  inverted  brass 
cuspidor  on  his  own  head,  dared  the  young  fellow  to  hit  it.  After  some 
chaffing  the  shot  was  fired.  It  struck  the  convex  surface  of  the  cuspidor , 
and  glancing  downward  crashed  through  the  brain  of  the  porter,  killing 
him  instantly.  It  was  clearly  shown  at  the  inquest  that  the  shooting  was 
a  piece  of  gross  recklessness. 

A  Careless  Mother — 

Mrs.  J.,  having  finished  her  washing,  emptied  part  of  a  boiler  of  hot 
suds  in  a  dishpan,  preparatory  to  scrubbing  the  floor.  Baby  Blanche,  two 
years  old,  was  playing  near  her.  The  mother  was  called  to  the  front  door. 
She  returned  in  less  than  three  minutes,  to  find  that  the  little  one  had 
toddled  from  the  corner  where  she  had  been  playing  and  fallen  headlong 
into  the  boiling  suds,  her  death  from  scalding  and  drowning  being  almost 
instantaneous.  Nearly  1,500  fatalities  of  more  or  less  this  character  have 
occurred  to  minors  under  sixteen  years  of  age  in  the  nine  years  of  my  ad¬ 
ministration  of  the  Coroner’s  office. 

Hopes  Blasted  by  Industrial  Accident — 

Joseph  K.,  a  Polish  laborer,  had  left  his  wife  and  three  children  in 
the  mother  country  and  come  to  America,  where  he  hoped  to  save  enough 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


135 


The  Violation  of  an  Ordinance 


136 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


from  his  wages  to  send  for  them  soon.  Through  an  employment  agency 
he  secured  a  job  immediately  on  his  arrival,  in  a  Chicago  foundry,  at  $1.75 
a  day,  and  was  assigned  with  several  others  as  helper  to  place  car  wheels 
and  other  heavy  iron  pieces  under  an  immense  drop  hammer,  and  to  then 
shovel  out  the  crushed  metal  after  it  had  been  broken  into  sizes  fit  for  use. 
After  placing  wheels,  etc.,  in  the  pit. ready  for  the  hammer,  the  helpers 
would  step  behind  a  plank  partition  to  protect  themselves  from  the  deadly 
flying  fragments.  Less  than  a  week  after  Joseph  had  secured  this  job, 
and  before  he  had  even  learned  enough  of  our  language  to  properly  under¬ 
stand  the  instructions  and  warnings  from  his  superiors  as  to  the  danger 
of  his  position,  he  went  to  his  work  one  morning  with  a  zeal  and  deter¬ 
mination  to  do  his  best,  having  just  written  his  wife  that  in  four  months 
he  would  be  able  to  save  enough  from  his  wages  to  send  for  her.  Fai 
from  “soldiering”  on  his  job,  he  went  to  his  work  with  a  will,  and  while 
adjusting  a  heavy  wheel  in  the  center  of  the  pit  where  the  hammer  would 
strike  it  squarely,  the  defective  catch  opened,  the  hammer  fell  with  tremend¬ 
ous  force,  mutilating  every  portion  of  his  body  until  no  part  retained  any 
semblance  of  form,  and  scattering  the  remains  to  all  points  of  the  apart¬ 
ment  in  which  the  pit  was  located.  Tens  of  thousands  of  accidents  due 
to  hazards  of  occupation  have  been  occurring  annually  for  years  in  this 
country.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  the  Safety  Movement  has  become  a 
determined,  fierce  demand  that  an  end  shall  be  made  to  committing  this 
class  of  avoidable  accidents? 

Death  of  Inexperienced  Workman — 

A.  D.  R.,  a  young  man  of  twenty,  left  his  home  in  Wisconsin,  where 
he  had  been  living  on  a  mortgaged  farm  with  his  mother  and  sister,  and 
came  to  Chicago  to  earn  money  to  help  his  family  out  of  their  financial 
straits.  He  secured  a  job  in  a  machine  shop  at  $10.75  week  and  had 
held  this  position  only  a  few  days  when  under  the  direction  of  a  foreman 
he  was  sent  aloft  on  a  ladder  to  adjust  a  belt  on  a  pulley  directly  over  a 
machine  that  was  not  protected  nor  safeguarded  in  any  way.  In  his 
effort  to  do  his  best  for  his  employer  he  leaned  far  out,  made  a  false  move, 
was  caught  in  the  machine  and  torn  limb  from  limb.  On  being  interviewed 
by  a  reporter  the  following  day,  the  proprietor  of  the  shop  said  he  had  given 
order  to  safeguard  this  machine  so  that  a  similar  accident  could  not  happen 
in  the  future ;  but  a  courageous  young  life  on  whom  the  family  on  the  farm 
had  pinned  their  hope  and  faith,  had  been  snuffed  out,  yet  the  whistle 
blew  the  following  morning  with  the  same  note,  and  the  machinery  hummed 
on  the  next  day  and  the  next — and  still  stultified  people  wonder  why  the 
Safety  Commission  has  come  into  existence !  The  above  accident  occurred 
because  the  factory  inspector  had  neglected  his  duty,  the  proprietor  had 
neglected  his,  and  the  foreman  was  guilty  of  criminal  negligence  by 
placing  a  new  and  uninstructed  hand  at  dangerous  work. 

Infection  from  Kissing  a  Dog — 

\ 

Nellie  C.,  a  rosy-cheeked  girl  of  eleven,  came  home  from  school  at 
noon  with  a  high  fever.  The  parents,  not  easily  alarmed  and  scarcely  able 
to  employ  a  physician,  put  her  to  bed,  thinking  she  would  be  well  by  the 
next  morning.  The  father  went  to  his  work  early  and  the  mother,  hav¬ 
ing  a  large  washing  and  finding  that  the  little  girl  refused  breakfast,  left 
her  in  the  room  upstairs  during  the*  forenoon,  but  her  condition  was  so 
serious  at  one  o’clock  that  a  physician  was  called  and  she  died  an  hour 
later,  the  physician  being  unable  to  determine  the  exact  nature  of  her 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


137 


malady.  A  Coroner’s  jnquest  was  necessary,  at  which  a  neighbor  tes¬ 
tified  to  having  seen  the  little  girl  kissing  the  mouth  of  her  spaniel  dog  the 
day  before.  As  it  is  well  known  that  dogs  are  insensible -to  some  germs 
that  are  deadly  to  human  beings,  this  surely  should  be  a  warning  against 
affectionate  demonstration  to  animals  on  the  part  of  both  old  and  young. 

Death  Through  Lack  of  Foresight — 

L.  W.  H.,  a  young  yard  man  of  good  habits  and  exceptional  promise, 
stood  on  the  footboard  of  a  switch  engine  as  it  was  rounding  a  curve  to 
pick  up  a  freight  car.  Instead  of  the  couplers  coming  together  as  expected, 
they  slipped  past  each  other  on  account  of  the  curve,  and  he  was  crushed 
between  the  engine  and  the  car.  The  alarm  was  given,  the  engine  halted, 
and  as  four  of  his  associates  extricated  him  and  laid  him  between  the  tracks 
he  said,  “Boys,  I  am  going — fast.  Kiss  me  for  my  wife,’’  and  one  of  the 
crew,  a  sturdy,  manly  man,  kneeled  down  and  kissed  him  on  the  lips, 
and  conveyed  the  details  as  they  occurred  to  his  young  wife,  to  whom  he 
had  been  married  only  four  months,  and  who  was  to  become  a  mother. 
This  story  was  told  at  the  inquest,  the  tragedy  and  tender  pathos  of  it 
breaking  down  every  person  present,  so  that  there  was  not  a  dry  eye  in 
the  room.  The  story  is  told  here  to  illustrate  some  of  the  heartrending 
details  with  which  the  Coroner  and  his  deputies  are  brought  into  daily 
contact. 

The  two  foregoing  illustrations  especially  emphasize  the  need  of 
breadwinners  with  families  dependent  upon  them,  to  make  proper  pro¬ 
vision  by  insuring  their  lives,  so  as  not  to  leave  poverty  and  destitution 
behind  them  in  the  event  of  sudden  or  violent  death;  41,692  having  taken 
place  in  Cook  County  in  nine  years  during  my  administration  of  the  office 
of  Coroner. 

In  the  year  1913,  $53,210,436  were  paid  out  to  beneficiaries  by  the 
Accident  Insurance  Companies  of  the  United  States,  more  than  half  of 
this  large  sum  going  to  the- families  of  breadwinners  who  otherwise  would 
have  been  left  without  means  of  support;  and  in  addition  to  the  above, 
$208,700,977  were  paid  in  1913  in  death  losses  by  the  regular  Life  Insur¬ 
ance  Companies,  and  $99,464,361  in  the  same  year  by  Fraternal  Organ¬ 
izations,  the  majority  of  the  latter  going  directly  to  the  support  of  families 
left  without  incomes,  thus  helping  to  eliminate  a  principal  source  of  bad 
citizenship;  for  those  who  meet  sudden  and  premature  deaths  are  usually 
in  the  prime  of  life,  with  families  to  support,  and  our  records  show  that 
criminals  are  largely  recruited  from  those  who  are  obliged  to  grow  up  on 
the  street  without  home  influence. 

The  time  has  come  when  our- “soldiers  of  industry’’  should  provide 
as  good  care  for  their  families  as  our  Pension  Bureau  is  designed  to  do 
for  the  families  of  our  soldiers  of  war,  so  that  the  surviving  widows  and 
orphans  may  not  be  left  destitute.  It  is  a  crime  for  which  both  heads  of 
families  and  society  are  responsible  to  permit  children  to  grow  up  in  the 
streets  without  proper  care,  food  and  education,  with  merely  a  choice 
between  secret  poverty  and  public  alms,  for  the  latter  always  humili¬ 
ates  and  the  former  brutalizes — a  condition  from  which  our  almshouses, 
jails  and  asylums  reap  their  harvest. 


138 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Thank  God,  Doctor,  My  Life  Insurance  is  Paid  Up. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


139 


My  Insurance  has  Lapsed — and  You  are  Left  Penniless. 


140 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


tffJifH-k 


The  Fate  of  a  Trespasser. 

In  Case  of  Accident,  Pending  the  Arrival  of  a 
Physician,  Observe  the  Following. 

From  the  experience  of  this  office  and  the  experience  of  the  physi¬ 
cians  of  the  Coroner’s  office,  we  find  that  the  death  rate  can  be  materi¬ 
ally  decreased  by  the  intelligent  handling  and  caring  for  those  whose 
injuries  may  not  be  fatal,  if  immediate  and  intelligent  aid  is  given  them 
at  once.  This  information  is  given  at  the  conclusion  of  the  report.  We 
therefore  append  the  following  suggestions  for  the  enlightenment  of  those 
who  may  have  the  immediate  care  of  the  injured,  that  their  intelligent 
assistance  may  save  lives  that  would  otherwise  be  lost.  This  information, 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


141 


however,  is  not  to  supplant  the  duties  of  a  physician  under  any  circum¬ 
stances,  nor  should  the  attendant  upon  the  injured  neglect  to  summon 
medical  aid. 

Any  person  of  ordinary  intelligence  may  be  of  service  until  the  arrival 
of  the  physician.* 

(a)  Drowning — Asphjodation — Rescue  body  from  water  and  free 
body  from  clothing  which  binds  the  neck,  chest  or  waist,  thrust  finger 
in  mouth  and  remove  anything  accumulated  there;  turn  the  body  over, 
face  downwards,  clasp  the  hands  under  the  pit  of  the  stomach  and  raise 
the  body  so  as  to  compress  the  belly  and  expel  the  water  from  the  lungs 
and  stomach;  then  lay  body  on  its  back,  the  head  and  chest  slightly  lower 
than  the  hips;  draw  the  tongue  out  of  the  mouth  and  perform  artificial 
respiration  in  this  manner:  Resting  on  one  knee  behind  the  head,  seize 
both  arms  (which  have  been  bent  at  the  elbows)  near  the  wrist  joint, 
placing  your  thumb  on  the  little  finger  side,  then  with  sweeping  horizontal 
movements  carry  the  arms  over  the  head  and  make  strong  pull  for  a  few 
seconds,  then  bring  the  arms  down  in  front  of  the  chest  and  make  strong 
pressure  with  them  against  the  lower  ribs  for  one  second,  about  i6  complete 
acts  of  respiration  produced  each  minute;  the  body  should  be  constantly 
rubbed  (toward  the  heart)  and  warmth  applied  by  hot  bottles,  brick,  cloth¬ 
ing,  etc.  These  movements  should  not  be  abandoned  until  a  competent 
person  or  physician  can  state  that  life  is  positively  extinct. 

(b)  Hanging — Cut  the  rope  and  remove  it  from  the  neck  without 
allowing  the  body  to  fall  to  the  ground,  and  proceed  with  artificial  respir¬ 
ation,  same  as  in  case  of  drowning. 

Sunstroke  and  Heat  Stroke — Immediate  treatment.  Remove  person 
to  cool  and  airy  place;  as  much  of  the  clothing  as  possible  must  be  removed. 
Apply  cold  to  head  and  body,  using  cold  water  or  ice  rubbed  over  the  chest, 
placed  in  the  arm  pits  and  on  the  head.  The  person  may  be  placed  in  a 
cold  bath  or  wrapped  in  a  wet  sheet  with  renewed  applications  of  cold 
water  or  ice  until  consciousness  returns. 

Bums  and  Scalds — (a)  Fire — When  a  person’s  clothing  catches 
fire,  the  wearer  must  not  run  about,  but  lie  down,  roll  over  and  over,  or 
be  covered  with  a  rug,  piece  of  carpet,  blanket,  shawl,  coat  or  any  w’oolen 
thing  (not  cotten  or  linen).  If  the  sufferer  loses  presence  of  mind,  any¬ 
one  looking  on  should  do  it.  After  the  flame  has  been  extinguished,  as 
much  of  the  clothing  as  has  to  be  must  be  clipped  away  and  the  burnt 
surface  covered  with  sweet  oil,  castor  oil  or  vaseline.  If  none  of  these  are 
at  hand,  pure  lard  or  soapy  water  should  be  used.  If  the  bum  is  very 
extensive,  the  entire  body  may  be  immersed  in  a  bath,  kept  at  loo  degrees 
Fahrenheit,  in  which  two  or  three  pounds  of  baking  soda  have  been  dis¬ 
solved,  or  containing  soap  suds  or  salt,  a  heaping  teaspoonful  to  each  gallon 
of  water  used. 

Scalds  by  steam  are  to  be  treated  the  same  as  burns  by  fire,  of  the 
same  degree. 

Burns  by  acid  should  be  deluged  with  water  containing  a  teaspoonful 
of  ammonia  to  the  pailful  of  water,  and  followed  by  oils  as  above. 

s 

(b)  Alkalies — Burns  by  alkalies  should  be  treated  with  application 
of  vinegar  and  followed  by  oils. 

(c)  Gases — Vapors  and  Smoke.  Remove  body  into  the  open  air 
and  proceed  with  artificial  respiration,  as  in  drowning. 


142 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


X 


(d)  Foreign  Bodies  in  Throat — Use  fingers  or  forceps  to  remove 
obstructing  body;  vomiting  may  remove  it.  The  same  may  be  true  of 
holding  a  person  head  downwards  and  slapping  on  the  back;  in  children, 
hold  the  body  up  by  the  heels.  If  the  obstruction  is  removed  and  respir¬ 
ation  has  ceased,  perform  artificial  respiration,  as  in  drowning. 

(e)  Drunkenness — In  case  of  profound  drunkenness,  if  the  body  is 
cold  and  the  skin  is  clammy,  apply  heat  externally.  If  hot  weather,  keep 
body  in  shade  and  apply  cold  water  or  ice  to  the  head  and  chest,  if  the  body 
is  dry  and  hot. 

Fits,  Convulsions  and  Unconsciousness — (a)  Fainting — A  fainting 
person  must  be  laid  fiat,  the  head  being  slightly  lower  than  the  body;  heavy 
wraps,  tight  collars,  corsets  and  waist  bands  must  be  loosened;  sprinkle 
water  upon  the  face. 

(b)  Epileptics — Epileptics  should  not  go  about  alone  or  go  into 
crowded  places.  When  attacked  by  a  fit,  place  the  body  face  up  and  in 
free  place  where  the  convulsive  movements  will  do  no  injury.  Soft  pieces 
of  wood  should  be  thrust  between  the  teeth,  to  prevent  biting  the  tongue. 
When  the  convulsion  is  past,  usually  a  profound  sleep  follows,  and  this 
should  not  be  disturbed.  An  epileptic  should  have  his  or  her  name  and 
address  sewed  just  inside  the  collar  of  coat  or  dress. 

The  treatment  suitable  for  all  cases  in  which  there’is  doubt  as  to  the 
cause  of  unconsciousness  is  to  secure  quiet  and  rest,  the  body  being  laid 
upon  its  back  (the  head  a- little  raised)  with  plenty  of  breathing  space 
until  medical  skill  arrives  or  the  body  is  removed  to  hospital  or  sanitarium. 

Freezing  and  Frostbites — (a)  General — If  the  whole  body  has  been 
long  exposed  to  extreme  cold,  with  depression  of  vitality  resulting,  res¬ 
toration  of  the  bodily  warmth  is  indispensable.  To  effect  this,  immerse 
the  body  in  a  warm  bath  and  gradually  bring  the  temperature  up  until 
it  is  hot  as  can  be  well  borne.  If  the  bath  is  not  conveniently  obtained, 
surround  the  body  with  heated  blankets,  hot  bottles  or  bricks,  or  expose 
before  an  open  fire;  give  hot  tea  or  coffee. 

(b)  Local — All  frostbites  should  be  treated  in  the  same  'wa}iby  hot 
applications  and  moderate  friction  (rubbing  may  be  used).  In  the  old 
practice  of  rubbing  with  snow,  it  is  the  rubbing,  and. not  the  cold  snow,  that 
does  the  good. 

Electricity  and  Lightning — Never  touch  with  any  part  of  your  body 
a  live  wire  or  lamp  or  generator  or  transformer  while  another  part  of  your 
body  is  in  electrical  contact  with  the  ground.  Never  touch  a  live  wdre 
with  both  hands  at  once  or  allow  two  parts  of  the  body  to  come  in  contact 
at  the  same  time  with  a  live  wire  or  electrical  apparatus.  In  rescuing  the 
body  of  a  victim  of  electricity,  the  above  rules  are  important  precautions; 
a  rescuer  is  secure  when  wearing  rubber  boots  and  rubber  gloves.  In  emer¬ 
gency,  by  use  of  a  dry  board  under  the  feet  or  a  book  or  folded  coat,  and  the 
hands  protected  by  thick  dry  cotton  or  woolen  gloves  or  cloths,  he  may 
handle  a  live  wire  with  impunity.  When  the  victim  has  been  released  from 
the  current  he  should  be  laid  down  in  a  safe  place,  his  clothing  loosened 
and  have*  plenty  of  fresh  air  and  bodily  rest  and  warmth.  If  breathing  is 
feeble  or  suspended,  artificial  respiration  may  be  performed,  as  in  drown¬ 
ing.  ‘  Recovery  may  be  looked  for  in  all  cases  where  the  shock  is  not  in¬ 
stantly  fatal. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


143 


Lightning  Stroke — The  effects  of  lightning  may  be  instant  death  or 
unconsciousness  with  great  depression  of  the  circulation  or  respiration. 
In  hopeful  cases  allow  rest,  fresh  air  and  warmth  to  the  body,  and  arti¬ 
ficial  respiration  if  necessary. 

Bites  from  Animals — Dogs,  horse,  cat  or  domestic  animal  bite.  The 
wound  should  be  thoroughly  cleansed  with  soap  and  water  and  alcohol; 
suction  or  squeezing  the  wound  under  hot  water,  and  thereby  causing  the 
wound  to  bleed  freely,  may  remove  any  irritating  material  which  may  have 
entered  the  wound. 

Bites  of  venomous  snakes,  if  inflicted  upon  one  of  the  extremities 
(arms  or  legs),  the  part  should  be  encircled  above  the  wound  with  a  tight 
bandage  or  ligature. 

Wounds — Bullet.  Cover  wound  with  a  clean  piece  of  linen,  and  call 
doctor. 

Cut  Throat — Keep  the  patient  in  a  nearly  upright  position  with  the 
head  bent  forward,  the  chin  resting  on  the  breast  bone,  also  hold  compress 
over  the  wound  firmly. 

Lacerations — The  wounds  with  ragged  or  blunt  edges,  such  as  are  often 
caused  by  machinery,  require  immediate  washing  by  a  stream  of  water 
(pure  or  salt  water)  softly  and  steadily  flowing  down  over  the  torn  parts, 
so  as  to  remove  any  foreign  matter  and  dirt  that  can  be  dislodged,  after 
which  the  parts  may  be  placed  as  nearly  as  possible  in  their  natural  pos¬ 
ition  and  held  with  a  clean  compress.  The  victim  should  be  in  a  recum¬ 
bent  position  and  removed.  In  severe  cases  if  the  injured  person  is  pale, 
the  skin  cold  and  clammy,  the  pulse  and  respiration  feeble,  the  eyes  dull, 
pupils  dilated,  the  mind  dull  or  insensible,  the  person  is  considered  to  be 
in  a  state  of  shock.  Warmth  should  be  applied  to  the  whole  body  by  means 
of  hot  blankets,  bottles  or  other  convenient  means,  and  some  hot  drink, 
preferably  coffee,  administered. 

Hemorrhage — Than  hemorrhage  there  is  no  accident  more  appall¬ 
ing,  and  none  in  which  a  little  accurate  knowledge  may  be  used  to  better 
advantage. 

(a)  Veins — If  the  blood  is  dark  in  color,  flowing  slowly  and  steadily, 
it  is  due  to  wounded  veins,  and  should  be  treated  with  direct  pressure  by 
applying  a  pad  of  dry  folded  cloth  and  binding  it  firmly  upon  the  bleeding 
spot. 


(b)  Arteries — The  blood  from  a  wounded  artery  is  bright  red;  it 
spurts  or  comes  in  jets,  and  should  be  checked  as  quickly  as  possible,  for 
it  may  be  very  dangerous.  The  principle  is  to  obstruct  the  artery  between 
the  cut  and  the  center  of  the  body.  If  the  wound  be  in  the  arm  or  leg 
encircle  the  extremity  above  the  wound  by  a  stout  bandage  and  twist 
until  the  bleeding  ceases.  Cover  the  wound  with  clean  linen  or  a  cloth 
and  apply  a  bandage.  Elevate  the  part  as  high  as  possible. 

EMETIC  TO  BE  USED  FOR  POISONING 

(As  described  below.)  In  all  cases  where  emetic  is  indicated,  to 
cause  vomiting,  give  warm  water,  with  or  without  ground  mustard  or 
salt.  Always  give  large  quantities  of  warm  water. 


144 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


POISON  AND  FIRST  AID  ANTIDOTES. 

Sulphuric  Acid — Give  flour  and  water,  lime  water,  baking  soda, 
washing  soda  or  soapy  water,  sweet  oil  or  olive  oil  or  eggs  and  milk. 

Oxalic  Acid — Give  milk,  chalk,  lime  water  and  emetic. 

Prussic  Acid — Give  milk,  flour  and  water,  oil,  emetic. 

Carbolic  Acid — Give  sweet  oil,  milk  and  raw  eggs,  alcohol  and  emetic. 

Alcohol — Emetic,  two  tablespoonfuls  of  ammonia  in  a  half  glass  of 
water;  apply  warmth  to  the  body. 

Alkalies — Caustic  potash,  caustic  soda,  lye  or  ammonia.  Give 
vinegar,  lemon  juice,  sweet  oil. 

Arsenic  (Rat  Poison,  Paris  Green) — Emetic,  milk,  raw  eggs,  castor 
oil. 

Chloral — Emetic,  artificial  respiration,  friction  and  warmth  to  the 
body. 

Chloroform  and  Ether — Artificial  respiration  and  fresh  air. 

Iodine — Starch  water,  milk,  emetic. 

Opium,  Morphine,  Codeine — Emetic,  hot  strong  coffee  or  tea  with 
grounds,  leaves  and  all;  teaspoonful  ammonia  in  water;  keep  victim  awake, 
striking  body  with  wet  towel  and  spanking;  artificial  respiration. 

Phosphorus  (Matches,  Rat  Poison) — Emetic,  turpentine  (teaspoon¬ 
ful  in  water).  Magnesia.  (Do  not  give  oil.) 

Strychnine — Emetic,  charcoal. 

Toadstools  (False  Mushrooms) — Emetic,  whiskey,  raw  eggs  and  milk. 

Corrosive  Sublimate  (Bichloride  of  Mercury) — Emetic,  strong  tea 
(leaves  and  all),  raw  eggs,  milk,  castor  oil. 

Unknown  Poisons — Give  large  quantities  of  lukewarm  water  (nearest 
at  hand,  even  if  it  is  dishwater),  emetic,  milk,  raw  eggs,  flour  and  water. 
If  in  collapse  give  strong  tea,  coffee  and  brandy  or  whiskey  for  stimulation. 

CONCLUSION. 

In  the  foregoing  pages  a  sufficient  demonstration  has  been  made  to 
show  the  direct  and  positive  relationship  which  from  the  standpoint  of 
public  service  and  welfare  must  ever  exist  between  the  Coroner’s  office 
of  every  community  and  all  organized  efforts  toward  education  and  legis¬ 
lation  directing  to  the  safeguarding  all  avenues  of  danger  to  life  and  limb. 

The  comprehensive  tables  in  the  body  of  this  book  in  some  respects 
are  but  a  start  toward  the  lessons  that  will  be  taught  by  the  Coroner’s 
office  as  year  after  year  these  tables  will  be  made  more  detailed,  more 
accurate  and  reliable  by  improving  our  blank  forms,  our  methods  of  gather¬ 
ing  data  and  establishing  new  subdivisions  to  more  vividly  bring  out 
the  lessons  involved.  As  stated  in  previous  pages,  statistics  are  the  organ- 
,^zed  and  classified  experiences  of  past  years;  and  as  we  learn  by  experience 
'in  this  world,  let  us  hope  that  from  year  to  year  the  dreadful  experiences 
here  recorded  will  have  a  most  wholesome  effect  in  influencing  both 
education  and  legislation  to  apply  all  the  arts  possible  in  the  interest  of 
saving  human  life. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


145 


Supplementary 


TT 

Coroner’s  Safety  Bulletin  No.  4 
For  Fortnight  Ending  November  6,  1914 

TT 


By  PETER  M.  HOFFMAN,  Coroner, 
County  Bldg.,  Chicago,  Ill. 


TT 

RAILROADS. 


The  number  of  fatal  accidents  on  railroads  in  Cook  County  during 
1913  was  360.  Under  the  general  law  of  average  increase  for  the  past 
ten  years,  this  would  bring  the  total  for  1914  up  to  384;  but  the  actual 
records  for  the  first  eleven  months  of  1914  show  that  a  most  gratifying 
change  for  the  better  has  taken  place,  viz.,  a  marked  decrease,  which  in 
reality  commenced  last  February,  and  which  gives  as  total  for  the  eleven 
months  of  this  year  253  railway  fatalities.  Below  is  given  the  record 
for  1914  by  months: 


December . 
January . .  . 
February. . 
March.  .  ,  . 

April . 

May . 

June . . 

July . 

August . . .  , 
September 
October.  . , 


30 

34 

18 

23 

21 

20 

21 

23 

20 

22 

21 


Total . 253 

If  as  an  estimate  fpr  November  we  add  23,  which  is  the  highest  number 
of  fatalities  for  any  month  since  February,  we  have  a  total  for  the  year 
1914  of  276,  a  decrease  of  108  from  what  would  have  been  the  toll  under 
the  average  rate  of  increase  before  the  Safety  First  activities  in  my  office 
and  the  work  of  the  Public  Safety  Commission  through  the  medium  of 
the  schools,  the  churches  and  the  press  began  to  take  effect. 

That  this  cutting  down  of  108  accidental  deaths  on  railroads  is  due 
without  question  to  the  general  educational  campaign  conducted  by  this 
office,  by  the  Public  Safety  Commission  and  by  the  railroads  themselves 
is  proven  by  the  fact  that  in  various  other  lines  the  number  of  fatal  acci¬ 
dents  has  been  decreased  this  year  in  about  the  same  ratio,  a  notable 
example  being  the  street  car  fatalities.  In  1912  these  were  209,  in  1913 
they  were  165,  and  for  the  first  eleven  months  of  1914  the  total  is  120. 


146 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Estimating  the  number  of  fatalities  for  November  on  the  same  basis  as 
for  the  railroad  fatalities,  we  finvi  that  the  complete  total  of  street  car 
fatalities  for  1914  will  be  141.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  actual 
decrease  is  greater  than  indicated  by  these  figures,  for  the  reason  that 
there  has  been  a  steady  increase  in  transportation  on  both  railroads 
and  street  cars. 

These  two  examples  alone  without  further  corroboration  give  un¬ 
questioned  testimony  as  to  the  effectiveness  of  education  in  the  field  of 
Public  Safety. 

An  analysis  of  the  character  of  fatalities  on  railroads  during  the 
years  1913  and  1914  indicates  clearly  the  direction  which  must  be  pur¬ 
sued  in  the  future  in  relation  to  both  education  and  legislation.  For  1913 


the  record  is  as  follows: 

Passengers  killed .  9 

Employes . 132 

Others . 219 

Total . 360 


Below  is  given  the  record  for  the  first  eleven  months  of  1914,  both  by 


group  and  by  months: 


Month 

Pass¬ 

engers 

Em¬ 

ployes 

Others 

Total 

December . 

.  .  .  .  2 

12 

16 

30 

January . 

.  .  .  .  I 

12 

21 

34 

February . 

.  .  .  .  0 

8 

10 

18 

March . 

.  .  .  .  I 

9 

13 

23 

April . 

.  .  .  .  0 

10 

1 1 

21 

May . 

.  .  .  .  I 

7 

12 

20 

June . 

.  .  .  .  I 

6 

14 

21 

July . 

,  .  .  .  2 

7 

14 

23 

August . 

.  .  .  .  2 

7 

1 1 

20 

September . 

.  .  .  .  I 

3 

18 

22 

October . 

.  .  .  .  I 

8 

12 

21 

Total . 

. . . .  12 

89 

152 

253 

The  comparatively  few  passengers  on  railroads  who  have  met  death 
speaks  in  highest  praise  for  the  efficiency  of  the  managers  in  safeguarding 
the  public.  The  numerous  safety  devices  which  have  been  installed  by 
many  railway  companies  are  largely  responsible  for  a  reduction  of  fatal¬ 
ities  among  employes  from  132  in  1913  to  an  estimated  number  of  97  for 
1914,  surely  a  splendid  showing  for  one  year.  In  order  to  further  cut 
down  this  mortality  rate  the  railroad  companies  should  exercise  special 
care  in  selecting  men  for  the  work  of  this  nature  who  are  not  only  physic¬ 
ally  strong  and  competent,  but  men  who  are  cautious  and  who  practice 
Safety  First.  The  predominating  number  of  “outsiders”  who  are  neither 
passengers  nor  employes,  who  are  in  fact  “trespassers”  on  the  property 
and  right-of-way  of  railroad  companies  indicates  that  both  education 
and  legislation  must  be  employed  if  these  figures  are  to  be  decreased. 

The  work  of  the  Special  Committee  on  Grade  Crossings  appointed 
by  the  Public  Safety  Commission,  complete  report  of  which  follows,  is 
indicative  of  the  earnestness  with  which  this  body  has  undertaken  to  safe¬ 
guard  human  life  in  the  County  of  Cook. 

The  officials  of  the  railroads  running  into  Chicago  have  entered  into 
full  co-operation  with  the  work  of  the  Coroner’s  office  and  the  Public 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


147 


Safety  Commission,  and  have  supplemented  this  by  a  vast  amount  of  safety 
work,  educational  work  and  safeguarding  of  employes  and  the  public  on 
their  own  part,  with  emphasis  at  the  present  time  on  the  effort. to  protect 
trespassers  against  themselves.. 

In  view  of  the  very  large  proportion  of  railway  accidents  and  fatal¬ 
ities  resulting  from  people  not  employes  walking  upon  the  right-of-way, 
the  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County  is  causing  a 
law  to  be  drafted  making  it  a  punishable  offense  to  use  the  railway  tracks 
or  yards  as  conveniences  or  thoroughfares;  this  law  not  to  be  enacted  not 
in  the  arbitrary  interest  of  railway  companies,  but  purely  for  the  cutting 
down  of  the  appalling  loss  of  life  that  results  from  this  particular  form  of 
trespass. 

A  general  survey  of  this  class  of  accidents  and  fatalities  shows  that 
out  of  a  yearly  total  of  something  over  10,000  killed  by  railways  in  the 
United  States,  more  than  half  are  persons  who  go  upon  the  tracks,  upon 
cars,  in  yards  or  shops,  without  the  right  to  do  so,  thus  unnecessarily  ex¬ 
posing  themselves  to  danger.  In  addition  to  this  large  number  who  an¬ 
nually  pay  for  their  carelessness  and  heedlessness  with  their  lives,  about 
an  equal  number,  by  this  form  of  trespass,  are  injured,  in  many  instances 
being  so  disabled  as  to  be  unfitted  for  future  usefulness. 

In  19 1 1  the  total  number  of  persons  killed  upon  railways  in  the  United 
States  (including  those  killed  instantly  and  those  who  died  within  twenty- 
four  hours  after  accident)  was  10,396;  of  these,  the  number  designated 
as  “trespassers”  is  5,284.  In  tabulating  the  particular  mode  of  death  it 
is  shown  that  practically  80  per  cent,  or  4,125,  were  “struck  by  car  or 
engine,”  that  is,  were  standing  or  walking  upon  the  tracks;  1,034  were 
killed  while  on  engines  or  cars;  520  were  killed  while  getting  on  or  off 
engines  or  cars  and  116  from  miscellaneous  causes. 

The  general  idea  prevails  that  the  majority  of  trespassers  killed  by 
railways  belong  to  that  class  of  homeless  and  shifting  population  known  as 
tramps  or  hoboes;  but  the  actual  figures  show  that,  on  the  contrary, by  far 
the  greater  number  is  drawn  from  the  resident  population,  laborers  and 
others  who  make  the  tracks  a  thoroughfare  on  their  way  to  and  from  work, 
or  who  walk  upon  the  tracks  when  the  public  highway  is  wet  or  muddy,  or 
to  make  a  “short  cut”  to  destination.  There  is  also  the  annual  toll  of 
children  and  youths  who  play  upon  the  right-of-way,  or  who,  as  in  our 
cities,  go  upon  the  tracks  or  in  the  yards  to  pick  up  coal  to  supply  needed 
fuel  for  the  home. 

In  the  careful  investigation  of  one  thousand  cases,  it  was  found  that 
489  resided  near  the  place  of  accident;  321  resided  at  a  distance  from  the 
place  of  accident,  and  the  residence  of  the  remaining  190  was  not  ascer¬ 
tained.  In  this  investigation  it  was  possible  to  determine  that  764  were 
not  tramps  or  hoboes;  of  the  remaining,  50  were  known  to  be  tramps, and 
of  186  it  was  impossible  to  determine. 

It  follows  inevitably  from  these  catastrophes  that  many  families 
are  deprived  of  their  wage  earner  and  left  destitute,  with  all  that  may 
mean  in  suffering  and  the  lack  of  proper  care 'and  training  of  children,  and 
the  train  of  evils  that  follow  these  conditions. 

The  toll  of  those  thus  killed  and  maimed  in  the  last  twenty  years  in 
the  United  States  is  one  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  men,  women  and 
children.  It  has  been  stated  that  the  State  of  Illinois  contributes  more 
to  this  vast  army  than  does  any  other  state.  Cook  County  more  than  any 
other  county  and  Chicago  more  than  any  other  city  in  the  United  States. 

In  attempting  to  draft  a  law  to  prevent  this  class  of  catastrophes,  it 
should  be  borne  in  mind  that  it  is  not  a  “moral  ”  issue,  but  a  matter  of 


148 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


protecting  people  against  their  own  heedlessness  and  lack  of  care  for  their 
own  safety.  It  is  not  a  measure  to  protect  railroads,  but  to  protect  men, 
women  and  children  from  becoming  victims  of  the  railroads.  It  must 
also  be  borne  in  mind  that  legal  measures  alone  cannot  accomplish  the 
work  to  be  done — the  educational  force  is  the  great  factor,  proper  legal 
measures  being  supplementary.  We  will  present  and  support  the  follow¬ 
ing  bill  for  passage  to  the  House  and  Senate  of  the  State  of  Illinois: 

INSPECTION  OF  GRADE  CROSSINGS  IN  COOK  COUNTY 

At  the  last  moment  before  going  to  press,  we  are  in  receipt  of  a  report 
from  the  Special  Committee  on  Grade  Crossings,  appointed  by  the  Public 
Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County.  It  is  an  old  adage  that 
“What  is  everybody’s  business  is  nobody’s  business,’’  and  nothing  can  so 
well  illustrate  the  fact  that  the  Public  Safety  Commission  is  making  it 
their  business  to  safeguard  human  life  in  this  county  as  the  follov/ing 
facts  from  their  report. 

The  Special  Grade  Crossings  Committee  consists  of  Dr.  Whlliam  E. 
Buehler,  Charles  M.  Hayes,  Peter  S.  Lambros  and  Peter  M.  Hoffman, 
with  Morrison  Koerner,  Secretary.  Up  to  the  time  of  this  report  six 
investigations  had  been  made,  in  the  towns  of  New  Trier,  Northfield, 
Niles,  Wheeling,  Maine,  Leyden,  Proviso,  Elk  Grove,  Barrington  and 
Palatine,  and  i8o  surface  crossings  were  inspected  and  a  report  of  each 
sent  to  the  railroad  company  concerned. 

The  number  of  crossings  in  good  condition  were  71  and  the  number 
regarded  as  fair  were  47.  The  number  of  recommendations  were  as  follows: 


Widening  crossing .  34 

New  planking .  36 

Remove  view  obstruction .  41 

Widen  approach .  11 

Decrease  incline .  9 

Install  bell .  9 

Install  flagman .  2 

Build  bridge . 1 

Fill  in  approaches .  12 

Reconstruct  crossing . 6 

Fill  in  with  cinders .  14 

Cover  unused  switch .  1 

Raise  track  and  roadway .  2 

Close  crossing  at  night .  . .  1 

Close  crossing  entirely .  1 

Erect  danger  signals . 3 

Install  gates .  1 

New  rails  at  crossing .  1 

Railing  along  ditch .  1 

Conference  R.  R.  Village  and  Drainage  Board .  3 


Among  the  railroad  officials  who  accojpanied  the  Grade  Crossings 
Committee  on  one  or  more  tours  of  inspection  were  G.  W.  Dailey,  Super¬ 
intendent  of  Wisconsin  Division  of  C.  &  N.  W.  Ry.,  W.  L.  Webb,  District 
Engineer  of  the  C.  M.  &  St.  P.  Ry.,  H.  M.  Eicholtz,  Superintendent  of 
the  Galena  Division  of  the  C.  &  N.  W.  Ry.,  J.  F.  Dignan,  Superintendent 
of  the  I.  C.  Ry.,  C.  G.  Bryan,  Assistant  Engineer  of  the  I.  C.  Ry.,  S.  S. 
Morris,  Chairman  General  Safety  Committee  of  the  I.  C.  Ry.,  T.  A.  Swee¬ 
ney,  Superintendent  of  the  Eastern  Division  of  C.  &  G.  W.  Ry.,  A.  B.  White, 
Engineer  C.  &  G.  W.  Ry.,  F.  W.  Urbahns,  Assistant  Superintendent  Soo 
Line,  J.  S.  Laughlin,  Division  Engineer  Soo  Line,  Otto  Gerbach,  Engineer 
M.  &  W.  Indiana  Harbor  Belt  Ry.,  and  also  the  Village  Trustees  and 
Highway  Commissioners  of  all  the  villages  and  townships  in  which  the 
grade  crossing  inspections  were  conducted. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


149 


The  360  railroad  fatalities  occurring  in  Cook  County  during  1913 
and  a  number  of  most  distressing  accidents  and  deaths  occurring  recently 
at  grade  crossings  in  this  county,  demanding  the  Coroner’s  presence  at 
inquests  over  the  bodies  of  men,  women  and  children,  are  among  the 
influences  which  brought  about  the  appointment  of  this  Special  Committee 
by  the  Public  Safety  Commission,  every  trip  of  inspection  having  been 
attended  by  the  Coroner  himself. 

Nothing  more  clearly  indicates  the  effective  work  being  done  by  the 
Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County  than  the  reports 
sent  to  each  railroad  company  involved  of  the  conditions  found  at  each 
grade  crossing  visited,  and  the  following  letters  forwarded  by  Morrison 
Koerner,  Secretary  of  the  Committee,  which  constitute  but  a  small  part 
of  the  voluminous  correspondence  with  all  the  parties  concerned: 

Mr.  William  Lawson,  Pres.,  Board  of  Trustees,  Des  Planes,  Illinois: 

Dear  Sir — A  special  committee  of  this  Commission  recently  made  a  trip  of  investi¬ 
gation  over  the  Soo  Line  Railroad  with  a  view  of  having  the  grade  crossings  of  this  rail¬ 
road  placed  in  a  safe  condition. 

At  the  Lee  Street  crossing  in  your  village,  it  was  found  that  there  are  very  bad  obstruc¬ 
tions  to  the  view.  One  of  these  is  on  the  southeast  corner,  another  is  on  the  southwest 
corner.  These  obstructions  are  trees  which  should  either  be  cut  down  or  trimmed,  for  the 
safety  of  the  public.  There  is  also  a  hedge  on  the  northeast  corner  which  should  be  removed. 
I  understand  that  the  trees  on  the  southwest  approach  are  owned  by  B.  Laughershausen. 

The  railroad  ofl&cials  have  agreed  to  fill  in  the  ditch  on  the  southeast  corner  and 
widen  the  approach,  thereby  complying  with  the  recommendations  made  by  the  investi¬ 
gating  committee.  .  .  -  . 

The  committee  was  accompanied  on  its  trip  by  the  Highway  Commissioners  of  your 
township,  as  well  as  by  the  Commissioners  of  the  Townships  of  Leyden,  Proviso  and  Wheel¬ 
ing.  These  officials,  as  well  as  the  railroad  officials,  are  co-operating  with  us  to  the  fullest 
extent  and  I  am  writing  to  ask  if  you  will  not  also  co-operate  with  us  and  take  up  the  matter 
of  having  these  trees  either  removed  or  trimmed  so  as  to  provide  an  unobstructed  view  of 
the  railroad  track  for  the  drivers  of  vehicles  and  for  pedestrians. 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Signed)  '  Morrison  Koerner, 

Secretary. 

Since  the  receipt  of  this  letter  it  is  gratifying  to  state  that  the  above 
recommendations  have  all  been  attended  to  and  the  obstructions  removed, 
which  speaks  volumes  for  the  spirit  of  co-operation  manifested  by  all 
concerned. 

Mr.  William  B.  McAuliff,  Pres.,  Board  of  Trustees,  Franklin  Park,  Illinois: 

Dear  Sir — On  June  30th  a  special  committee  of  this  Commission  made  an  investi¬ 
gation  of  grade  crossings  along  the  Soo  Line  in  the  Townships  of  Leyden,  Wheeling,  Maine 
and  Proviso.  They  were  accompanied  by  the  Highway  Commissioners  of  these  townships. 

The  Highway  Commissioners  and  officials  of  the  railroads  are  co-operating  with  this 
Commission  in  an  effort  to  put  the  railroad  grade  crossings  of  Cook  County  in  a  safe  con¬ 
dition.  I  am  writing  to  ask  for  your  co-operation. 

The  committee  found  that  at  three  crossings  on  the  Soo  Line  in  your  village  there  are 
obstructions  to  sight  which  make  the  crossings  dangerous.  These  crossings  are: 

1.  Grand  Avenue  Crossing.  There  are  trees  on  the  northwest  corner  of  this  cross¬ 
ing  which  should  be  either  cut  down  or  trimmed  so  as  to  give  an  unobstructed  view  of  the 
railroad  track.  The  railroad  company  has  agreed  to  plank  this  crossing  solidly. 

2.  Chestnut  Street  Crossing.  There  are  obstructions  to  view  on  three  corners,  which 
should  be  either  trimmed  or  cut  down.  For  your  information  will  say  that  the  railroad 
company  has  agreed  to  re-plank  this  crossing  and  put  screenings  in  between  the  tracks. 

3.  Park  Avenue  Crossing.  There  are  trees  on  the  southeast  and  northeast  corners 
which  should  be  trimmed  in  order  to  give  a  better  view  of  the  track.  The  railroad  company 
has  agreed  to  put  in  24-ft.  planking  instead  of  the  IG-ft.  planking  which  is  there  now,  and 
to  fix  the  approaches  of  this  crossing. 

I  sincerely  trust  that  you  will  receive  this  letter  in  the  spirit  in  which  it  is  written, 
and  that  you  will  co-operate  with  us  to  an  extent  at  least  as  great  as  the  railroad  company, 
as  it  is  in  the  co-operation  of  the  various  officials  of  villages  and  towns  and  the  railro^ 
company  that  this  Commission  is  bringing  about  the  rehabilitation  of  railroad  grade  cross¬ 
ings  in  Cook  County,  thus  making  our  county  a  better  and  safer  place  in  which  to  live. 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Signed)  Morrison  Koerner, 

Secretary. 


150 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


General  Superintendent,  River  Forest,  Illinois: 

Dear  Sir — On  June  30th  a  special  committee  of  this  Commission  made  an  investi¬ 
gation  of  grade  crossings  along  the  Soo  Line  in  the  Townships  of  Leyden,  Wheeling,  Maine 
and  Proviso.  We  were  accompanied  by  the  Highway  Commissioners  of  these  Townships. 

The  Highway  Commissioners  and  officials  of  the  railroad  are  co-operating  with  this 
Commission  in  an  effort  to  put  the  railroad  grade  crossings  of  Cook  County  in  a  safe  con¬ 
dition. 

I  am  writing  to  ask  you  for  your  co-operation.  This  Committee  found  that  at  three 
crossings  on  the  Soo  Line  In  your  village  there  are  obstructions  to  sight  which  make  the 
crossings  dangerous.  These  crossings  are: 

1.  Forest  Avenue  Crossing. 

2.  Birchwood  Avenue  Crossing. 

3.  Keystone  Avenue  Crossing. 

The  railroad  company,  through  Mr.  F.  W.  Urbahns,  Assistant  Superintendent,  has 
agreed  to  place  these  crossings  in  excellent  condition.  The  crossings  are  to  be  made  as 
wide  as  the  roadways  approaching  them,  new  planking  is  to  be  put  in  from  curb  to  curb, 
and  the  crossings  to  be  made  as  wide  as  the  streets.  The  bells  at  Forest  Avenue  and  Birch¬ 
wood  Avenue,  which  were  found  to  be  out  of  order,  are  to  be  repaired  at  once. 

From  this  you  will  see  that  the  railroad  company  is  co-operating  with  us.  The  High- 
w'ay  Commissioners  and  other  officials  of  villages  and  towns  throughout  Cook  County 
are  co-operating  with  this  Commission,  and  I  hope  that  you  and  the  other  officials  of  your 
village  will  join  with  us  in  our  work  of  rehabihtating  grade  crossings  in  Cook  County,  and 
that  you  for  your  part  will  see  that  the  obstructions  to  view  at  these  three  crossings  are 
removed,  or  at  least  trimmed  so  as  to  give  an  unobstructed  view  of  the  railroad  tracks. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Morrison  Koerner,  Secretary. 

Secretary  McComb,  Drainage  District  No.  1,  Arlington  Heights,  Illinois: 

Dear  Sir — Recently  a  special  committee  of  this  Commission,  accompanied  by  the 
Highway  Commissioners  of  the  Township  of  Wheehng,  made  an  investigation  of  grade 
crossings  along  the  Soo  Line,  both  in  thattownship  and  in  other  townships  in  Cook  County. 
At  the  Wheeling  Road  Crossing  and  the  Dundee  Crossing  it  was  found  that  these  were 
in  an  extremely  dangerous  condition,  and  that  it  was  impossible  to  put  them  in  a  safe  con¬ 
dition  until  the  Drainage  Commissioners  of  Drainage  District  No.  1  have  completed  their 
portion  of  the  improvements  which  are  being  made  there. 

Trusting  that  you  will  take  this  matter  up  at  once  with  the  commissioners  and  co¬ 
operate  with  the  railroad  officials,  this  Commission  and  the  Highway  Commissioners 
in  making  these  crossings  safe,  I  am, 

Yours  very  truly, 

Morrison  Koerner,  Secretary. 

Total  number  of  crossings  inspected,  i8o.  The  railroads  concerned 
were  Chicago  &  North  Western,  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul,  Soo 
Line,  Illinois  Central,  Indiana  Harbor  Belt  Lines,  Milwaukee  Electric, 
Chicago  Great  Western. 

SUMMARY  OF  SIX  INSPECTION  TRIPS. 


Trip 

one 

Trip 

two 

Trip 

thre 

Trip 

four 

Trip 

five 

Trip 

six 

Totals 

Crossings  in  good  condition . 

.16 

11 

26 

13 

12 

6 

71 

Fair  condition . 

.  3 

4 

17 

12 

ir 

47 

Recommendation  s  : 

Widen  crossing . 

.10 

4 

6 

11 

3 

34 

New  planking . 

1 

11 

17 

2 

36 

Remove  view  obstruction . 

.  4 

3 

8 

13 

13 

41 

Widen  approach . 

1 

2 

7 

1 

11 

Decrease  incline . 

.  2 

3 

1 

3 

• 

9 

Install  bell . 

.  2 

1 

4 

2 

'  9 

Install  flagman. . . 

.  2 

2 

Build  bridge .  . . 

.  1 

. 

1 

Fill  in  approaches . 

.  1 

2 

3 

5 

i 

12 

Reconstruct  crossing . 

.  2 

2 

2 

6 

Fill  in  with  cinders . 

1 

2 

8 

3 

14 

Cover  unused  switch . 

1 

•  • 

1 

Raise  track  and  roadwav . 

1 

i 

•  • 

2 

Close  crossing  at  night . 

1 

•  • 

1 

Close  crossing  entirely . 

1 

1 

Erect  danger  signals . 

2 

1 

3 

Install  gates . 

i 

1 

New  rails  at  crossing . 

i 

•  • 

1 

Railing  along  ditch . 

i 

•  • 

1 

Conference  Ry.,  Village  and  Drainage 
Boards . 

•  • 

•  • 

3 

•  • 

3 

STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


151 


The  above  tabulation  gives  the  findings  of  the  Special  Grade  Cross¬ 
ings  Committee  in  full  detail  and  is  a  telling  exhibit  of  the  new  relation 
toward  the  public  which  has  been  established  in  the  Coroner’s  office  of 
Cook  County,  and  of  the  effective  work  being  done  by  the  Safety  Com¬ 
mission  in  the  line  of  safeguarding  life  and  limb  in  the  interest  of  all. 

The  Committee  on  Grade  Crossings  expressed  their  highest  appre¬ 
ciation  for  the  uniform  courtesy  and  co-operation,  not  only  of  all  the  rail¬ 
road  officials  who  accompanied  the  several  tours  of  inspection,  but  of  the 
village  trustees,  the  highway  commissioners  of  the  towns  and  the  owners 
of  private  property  adjacent  to  the  railroad  crossings,  whenever  asked  to 
cut  down  or  trim  trees  or  remove  other  obstructions  to  the  view,  in  order 
to  secure  a  high  degree  of  safety  at  these  crossings. 

The  fact  that  a  number  of  approaches  to  the  crossings  inspected  were 
not  more  than  from  nine  to  ten  feet  wide,  making  it  impossible  for  teams  to 
pass,  and  that  in  each  case  arrangements  were  effected  by  mutual  agree¬ 
ment  between  the  railway  company  and  the  Highway  Commissioners 
to  have  these  defects  remedied,  shows  the  value  of  the  Safety  Commission 
in  helping  to  bring  the  interested  parties  together.  It  is  now  aimed  to 
make  a  complete  record  of  every  grade  crossing  in  Cook  County,  showing 
past  and  present  condition,  and  by  periodical  inspection  it  is  proposed 
to  see  that  they  are  kept  up  to  the  proper  standard  of  safety. 

We  believe  that  if  the  recommendations  herein  made  are  duly  complied 
with  by  all  concerned,  grade  crossing  accidents  will  be  materially  reduced 
until  such  time  as  complete  safety  can  be  secured  by  the  elevation  of 
tracks. 

PARKER  H.  SERCOMBE, 

Coroner's  Statistician. 


152 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and 

Cook  County 

▼T 

Otis  Building,  Chicago 

TT 

A  YEAR  OF  SAFETY  WORK. 

Report  of  George  H.  Whittle,  First  President  of  the  Public  Safety 
Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County,  Made  at  the  First  Annual  Meet¬ 
ing  of  the  Public  Safety  Commission,  Held  in  the  Lounge  Room  of  the 
City  Club,  September  lo,  1914. 

After  a  year  of  unqualified  success,  the  Public  Safety  Commission 
of  Chicago  and  Cook  County,  which  was  organized  a  year  ago  by  Coroner 
Peter  M.  Hoffman  of  Chicago,  held  its  first  annual  meeting  Thursday, 
September  10,  1914. 

At  this  meeting  President  George  H.  Whittle,  whose  term  has  expired, 
read  his  annual  report,  in  which  he  gave  a  brief  resume  of  some  of  the  Com¬ 
mission’s  activities. 

Mr.  Whittle,  although  requested  to  again  accept  the  Presidency, 
refused  to  do  so,  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  is  unable  to  give  up  so  large  a 
portion  of  his  time  from  his  business. 

Dr.  Wm.  E.  Buehler  was  elected  President  for  the  ensuing  year  and 
the  following  were  elected  Directors  of  the  Commission  for  the  year  1914- 

1915: 

Dr.  Wm.  E.  Buehler,  Samuel  A.  Ettelson,  Chas.  A.  McCulloch,  John 
T.  Stockton,  Coroner  Peter  M.  Hoffman,  George  H.  Whittle  and  Chas. 
M.  Hayes. 

The  office  of  the  Commission  in  the  Otis  Building,  Chicago,  is  to 
remain  in  charge  of  Morrison  Koerner. 

Mr.  Whittle’s  report  in  full  follows. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

In  presenting  this  report  at  the  conclusion  of  my  term  of  office  as 
President  of  the  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County 
during  its  first  year  of  existence,  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  testify  to  the 
unselfish  and  energetic  aid  given  by  the  officers  of  the  Commission  and  by 
a  great  majority  of  the  membership. 

It  is  also  a  pleasure  to  testify  that  during  its  short  career,  the  Com¬ 
mission  has  accomplished  real  constructive  work.  I  predict  that  during 
the  next  year,  the  work  of  the  Commission  will  increase  many  fold,  and 
I  bespeak  for  the  new  President  the  same  hearty  and  sincere  co-operation 
which  you  have  given  me. 

The  matters  which  for  the  most  part  have,  during  the  past  year, 
engaged  the  attention  of  the  Commission  are  as  follows: 

1.  Crusade  against  automobile  speeders. 

2.  An  educational  campaign  through  the  schools,  churches  and 
the  press. 

3.  The  establishment  of  life-saving  service  at  private  beaches  along 
the  north  shore. 

4.  Investigation  of  grade  crossings  in  Cook  County. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


153 


It  was  decided,  at  a  meeting  of  all  the  Chairmen  of  our  various  com¬ 
mittees,  held  in  March,  1914,  to  concentrate  our  efforts  upon  the  above 
matters.  Our  crusade  against  speed  maniacs  and  the  automobile  driver 
who  insists  upon  operating  his  motor  car  with  the  muffler  cut  out,  has  at¬ 
tracted  city-wide  attention,  and  there  are  daily  received  in  the  office  of 
the  Commission  at  the  present  time  from  twenty  to  thirty  complaints. 
These  are  immediately  taken  up  and  the  person  complained  of  is  forced 
to  answer,  giving  a  satisfactory  explanation. 

To  indicate  how  our  Commission  is  regarded  throughout  the  city, 
I  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  several  concerns  that  operate 
a  large  number  of  automobiles,  taxi-cabs,  wagons,  etc.,  upon  our  streets, 
are  sending  their  drivers  and  chauffeurs  to  our  office  upon  receipt  of  a  com¬ 
plaint  against  them,  and  the  driver  or  chauffeur  must  be  given  a  note  to  the 
management  from  the  Commission’s  office  before  he  can  go  to  work.  This 
note  of  approval  is  never  given  unless  the  driver  or  chauffeur  promises  that 
he  will  in  the  future  obey  the  traffic  laws  of  the  city  and  state. 

To  date  we  have  received  and  acted  upon  1,543  complaints  regarding 
the  infraction  of  traffic  rules  and  speed  laws  by  automobilists.  We  have 
also  received  numerous  complaints  from  residents  in  particular  neighbor¬ 
hoods,  alleging  that  their  streets  are  used  as  speedways  by  automobilists 
and  motorcyclists.  Upon  receipt  of  such  complaints  our  office  takes  up 
the  matter  with  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police  or  with  the  Captain 
commanding  the  district  from  which  the  complaint  is  received,  and  with¬ 
out  exception  we  have  succeeded  in  securing  police  assistance. 

We  have  received  extremely  few  complaints  regarding  specific  viola¬ 
tions  of  the  speed  laws  by  motorcyclists.  This  however,  from  the  ex¬ 
perience  of  the  Commission  during  the  past  year,  does  not  mean  that 
the  motorcyclists  do  not  frequently  violate  the  speed  laws.  The  fact  is 
that  the  state  license  numbers  are  so  small  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
read  a  number  on  the  back  of  a  motorcycle.  In  this  connection  I  believe 
that  during  the  next  year  the  Commission  should  work  out  some  scheme 
by  which  motorcyclists  could  be  easily  identified. 

Members  of  the  Commission  have  served  on  twenty-six  Coroner’s 
juries,  many  of  them  being  automobile  cases  in  which  little  children  were 
run  down  and  killed  by  automobile  trucks  and  pleasure  vehicles. 

I  believe  that  we  can  reasonably  claim  that  our  educational  campaign 
in  the  public  schools,  churches  and  "through  the  press  for  Safety  First  was 
a  success  and  our  constant  emphasis  of  this  slogan  has  brought  about  a 
decided  change  in  the  attitude  of  the  general  public  (including  automo¬ 
bilists  and  motorcyclists)  regarding  the  necessity  of  exercising  proper  care 
and  precaution  upon  the  streets  of  our  city. 

On  October  10,  1913,  we  held  our  first  Safety  Day  in  the  public  schools. 
Later  members  of  the  Commission  and  others  spoke  in  schools  not  included 
in  the  initial  campaign,  so  that  practically  every  room  in  the  Chicago  Pub¬ 
lic  Schools  has  been  visited  and  over  400,000  pieces  of  literature  distributed 
to  the  pupils. 

October  26,  1913,  was  designated  as  Safety  Day  in  the  churches,  and 
more  than  1,500  clergymen  in  Chicago  and  Cook  County  proclaimed  the 
gospel  of  Safety  First  from  the  pulpits  on  that  day. 

We  have  also  received  a  great  amount  of  publicity  through  the  Chicago 
daily  papers,  trade  magazines,  club  journals,  weekly  papers  in  Cook  County 
and  other  publications.  In  this  connection  I  desire  to  say  that  the  pub¬ 
licity  given  us  by  Mr.  Louis  N.  Hammerling  and  The  American  Associ¬ 
ation  of  Foreign-Language  Newspapers,  Inc.,  through  the  American 
Leader,  has  been  of  incalculable  benefit.  There  have  appeared,  twice  a 


154 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


month,  different  articles  on  Safety  First  written  by  members  of  this  Com¬ 
mission.  These  articles,  I  am  advised,  have  been  copied  by  the  690  news¬ 
papers  comprising  The  American  Association  of  Foreign  Language  News¬ 
papers.  In  this  way  the  Commission  has  been  able  to  do  pioneer  Safety 
First  work  among  a  class  of  people  which  could  be  reached  in  no  other  way. 

The  establishment  of  our  life-saving  service  along  the  north  shore 
has  proven  of  much  greater  benefit  than  we  had  anticipated.  At  the  pres¬ 
ent  time  we  have  four  boats,  which  are  located  at  the  following  places: 
Thorndale  Avenue,  Rosemont  Avenue,  Hollywood  Avenue  and  Gordon 
Terrace.  These  boats  have  been  used  frequently,  and  we  have  a  record 
of  fifteen  persons  rescued  from  drowning  during  the  past  summer. 

I  would  recommend  that  this  service  be  continued  and  increased  from 
year  to  year  until  every  private  bathing  beach  along  our  lake  shore  is 
provided  with  a  boat.  These  boats  are  of  such  construction  that  they 
can  be  handled  by  one  man,  and  are  equipped  with  life  lines,  grappling 
hooks  and  other  life-saving  appliances. 

In  Coroner  Hoffman’s  Biennal  Report,  which  no  doubt  you  have  all 
read  with  great  interest,  the  inspection  of  grade  crossings  in  Cook  County 
by  our  special  committee,  appointed  by  the  President,  is  outlined  in  a 
supplementary  report  in  the  concluding  pages  of  the  book.  It  gives  me 
great  pleasure  to  quote  a  few  of  the  letters  received  at  our  office,  showing 
that  the  recommendations  made  by  the  special  committee  have  been 
favorably  acted  upon : 

Letter  received  from  Mr.  Avery  Coonley,  Highway  Commissioner 
of  the  town  of  Riverside: 

“I  believe  I  have  not  reported  to  you  upon  a  matter  which  you 
brought  to  my  attention  as  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Township 
Highway  Commissioners  of  Riverside. 

“You  wrote  me  about  June  28th  with  regard  to  the  desirability 
of  trimming  some  trees  lying  north  of  the  branch  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  which  runs  just  north  of  Riverside  and  east  of  Des  Plaines 
Avenue. 

“Upon  receipt  of  your  communication  we  advised  the  owners 
of  the  property,  who  very  kindly  agreed  to  do  the  work,  and  within 
a  short  time  thereafter  trimmed  the  trees  thoroughly,  so  that  an  excell¬ 
ent  view  east  on  the  railroad  is  obtained  by  people  driving  south  on 
Des  Plaines  Avenue  for  a  considerable  distance  before  they  reach 
the  track.’’ 

Letter  received  from  Mr.  W.  L.  Peckham,  Village  Clerk  of  Franklin 
Park,  Ill.: 

“This  is  to  advise  you  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  Village  Board 
held  Tuesday  evening,  August  i8th,  the  Chairman  of  the  Streets 
and  Alleys  Committee  reported  to  the  effect  that  all  of  the  Commis¬ 
sion’s  recommendations  relative  to  removing  obstructions  to  view  at 
the  various  railroad  street  crossings  have  been  complied  with  on  the 

part  of  the  Village  of  Franklin  Park.’’ 

\ 

Letter  received  from  Mr.  E.  W.  Morrison,  Supt.  of  C.  &  M.  Division 
of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad: 

“Through  some  misunderstanding  I  w^as  not  notified  in  regard 
to  your  investigation  of  grade  crossings  and  their  surroundings  on  the 
C.  M.  &  St.  P.  Ry.,  in  the  Township  of  Niles  Center  and  Northfield, 
and  failed  to  have  the  pleasure  of  accompanying  you  and  your  party 


vSTOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


155 


on  the  trip.  However,  Mr.  W.  L.  Webb,  one  of  our  engineers,  has 
given  me  a  full  report,  and  the  Vice-President,  Mr.  Bush,  has  given 
me  authority  to  make  the  repairs  as  suggested  by  your  Committee. 

“We  expect,  within  the  next  thirty  days,  although  it  may  take 
longer,  to  have  the  work  completed.  As  I  understand,  this  work 
covers  the  following  crossings:  Touhy  Avenue,  Gross  Point  Road, 
Howard  Avenue,  Oakton  Street,  Main  Street,  Morton  Grove, 
Demster  Street,  Morton  Grove;  Church  Street,  Morton  Grove;  No. 
Branch  Road,  Lake  Avenue,  First  Highway,  one  and  one-quarter  miles 
south  of  Techny  Crossing,  Techny  Crossing,  Dundee  Road,  County 
Line  Road. 

“In  case  any  of  the  crossings  are  not  finished  according  to  your 
idea,  I  would  be  pleased  to  have  you  inform  me,  and  I  will  do  every¬ 
thing  possible  to  satisfy  your  Committee  as  well  as  the  outside  Town 
Boards.” 

Letter  received  from  Mr.  G.  R.  Morrison,  Supt.  Chicago  & 
Council  Bluffs  Division  of  the  C.  M.  &  St.  P.  R.  R.: 

“I  desire  to  call  your  attention  to  the  suggestion  made  by  you 
as  to  the  installation  of  a  warning  bell  west  of  Des  Plaines  River  at 
what  is  known  as  the  River  Road,  and  to  advise  that  the  installation 
will  be  made;  also,  I  am  going  to  apply  screenings  to  the  various 
important  crossings,  as  we  talked. 

“The  approaches  at  a  number  of  crossings  have  been  improved 
and  a  good  many  trees  have  been  cut  down  and  trimmed,  very  much 
improving  the  view,  so  far  as  the  railroad  company  is  concerned, 
and  I  find  at  some  points  the  Highway  Commissioners  have  carried 
out  the  suggestion.” 

'  Letter  received  from  the  General  Superintendent  of  the  Chicago 
&  Milwaukee  Electric  Railroad  Co.: 

“In  reply  to  your  favor  of  the  20th  inst.  in  reference  to  lighting 
of  danger  sign  at  Scott  Avenue,  Glencoe,  I  beg  to  advise  that  we  will 
be  pleased  to  furnish  the  current  from  our  station  at  that  point.” 

Letter  received  from  Mr.  T.  A.  Sweeney,  Superintendent  of  the  Chi¬ 
cago  Great  Western  Railroad  Company: 

“We  have  ordered  additional  planking  and  stone  screenings 
to  take  care  of  the  crossings  referred  to.  As  soon  as  they  are  received 
same  will  receive  necessary  attention.” 

Letter  received  from  Mr.  J.  Wischnia,  Superintendent  of  St.  Joseph’s 
Cemetery,  River  Grove,  Ill.: 

“Have  your  letter  dated  July  16,  1914,  regarding  some  obstruc¬ 
tion  to  the  River  Road  in  River  Grove  at  St.  P.  R.  R.  Mr.  Henry 
Buckman  spoke  about  this  matter  last  Wednesday,  July  15,  1914, 
and  I  had  men  rerqove  the  obstructions  at  once.  So  I  can  assure  you 
all  obstructions  on  the  premises  of  the  St.  Joseph  Cemetery  are  re¬ 
moved.” 

In  all,  the  Committee  has  inspected  180  railroad  crossings.  The  Com¬ 
mittee  received  the  active  co-operation  on  all  of  its  trips  of  the  railroad 
officials,  the  Highway  Commissioners  of  the  various  townships  and  the 
officers  of  the  towns  and  villages  in  Cook  County.  A  detailed  report  of 
each  trip  is  kept  on  file  in  the  office,  and  from  the  letters  which  I  have 
just  read,  you  will  see  that  the  Committee  has  accomplished  results.  For 
the  unselfish  work  which  the  members  of  this  Committee  have  done,  I 


156 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


desire  to  thank  Coroner  Peter  M.  Hoffman,  Dr.  Wm.  E.  Buehler,  Mr. 
Peter  S.  Lambros  and  Mr.  Chas.  M.  Hayes. 

I  cannot  close  this  report  without  referring  with  the  greatest  appre¬ 
ciation  to  Coroner  Peter  M.  Hoffman’s  Biennial  Report.  Already  the 
Coroner  and  the  Commission  has  received  congratulatory  letters  from 
prominent  educators,  safety  experts  and  men  high  in  the  councils  of  the 
state  and  nation,  praising  this  book  and  predicting  that  it  will  soon  become 
known  throughout  the  country  as  a  hand  book  on  Public  Safety. 


Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and 

Cook  County 

RECEIPTS  AND  EXPENDITURES 
From  September  ist,  1913,  to  August  31st,  1914. 

RECEIPTS 

Contributions . 

Memberships  Sold . . . 

Signs  Sold . 

Buttons  Sold . 


$8,572.00 

180.00 

20.50 

147.50 


EXPENDITURES 

Salaries . 

Rent . 

Postage . 

Stationery  and  Printing . 

Educational  Committee . 

Publicity  Expense . 

Commission  Paid — 

On  Contributions  Collected . 

On  Memberships  Sold . 

Grade  Crossing  Investigation . 

Buttons  Purchased . 

Signs  Purchased . 

Form  Letters  and  Postage . 

Investigation  Expense . 

Lettering  Doors . 

Ice  and  Water . 

City  Directory . 

Rent  of  Typewriter . 

Rent  of  Clock . 

Newspaper  Annual . 

Cutting  Rug.  . 

Telephone  and  Telegraph . 

Electric  Light . 

Miscellaneous . 


$8,920.00 


$3,193.00 

885.00 

270.09 

459.27 

567-75 

418-53 

717-35 

71.00 

261.82 

209.13 

18.50 

59.45 

50.50 
10.00 
31.80 

12.50 
64.25 

3.75 

5.00 

7.19 

223.80 

37.30 

29.16 

- $7,606.64 


Balance — Surplus 


$1,313-36 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


157 


THE  UNEMPLOYED  AS  CORONER’S  JURORS. 

Toward  the  middle  of  October  the  Coroner  became  conscious  that 
there  were  an  increasing  number  of  unemployed,  willing  and  anxious  to 
serve  as  jurors,  among  whom  were  a  large  percentage  of  highly  intelligent 
and  thoroughly  competent  men.  It  was  clear  that  both  economy  and  just¬ 
ice  would  be  best  served  by  giving  the  one-dollar  jury  fee  to  those  who 
were  in  need  and  glad  to  give  the  time  to  serve,  rather  than  to  withdraw 
busy  men  from  their  work,  to  whom  the  fee  was  no  object. 

The  newspapers  having  taken  the  matter  up,  the  public  was  notified 
that  reputable  unemployed  men  might  be  given  a  chance  to  earn  fees  as 
coroner’s  jurors,  which  promptly  resulted  in  from  three  hundred  to  five 
hundred  men  besieging  the  office  and  lining  up  through  the  corridors  of 
the  County  Building  as  early  as  six  o’clock  in  the  morning,  in  order  to  be 
the  first  to  be  assigned  on  cases. 

Since  starting  this  plan  we  have  been  able  to  use  from  sixty  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty  men  per  day,  some  having  in  the  meantime  reported 
that  they  had  secured  other  jobs  and  dropped  out,  although  from  Novem¬ 
ber  first  to  the  fifteenth  our  records  show  that  232  different  men,  all  of  them 
unemployed  and  in  need  of  the  fee,  have  sat  on  coroner’s  juries. 

This  office  has  made  careful  investigation  into  some  of  these  indiv¬ 
idual  cases  and  finds  that  were  it  not  for  this  aid,  some  of  these  men  would 
have  been  forced  to  apply  to  the  County  Agent  or  to  charity  organizations 
for  assistance,  but  the  fee  they  received  as  coroner’s  jurors  in  many  in¬ 
stances  staved  off  actual  want  until  such  time  as  they  could  secure  regular 
employment;  and  it  is  interesting  to  state  that  more  than  a  dozen  of  the 
unemployed  were  helped  to  new  positions  as  a  result  of  the  recommend¬ 
ations  of  this  office. 

Before  placing  the  unemployed  on  coroner’s  juries,  they  are  required 
as  an  evidence  of  good  faith,  to  file  a  letter  in  this  office  in  their  own  hand¬ 
writing,  giving  address,  age,  number  dependent  upon  them,  their  former 
employment,  etc.,  and  upwards  of  seven  hundred  letters  are  now  on  file, 
the  preference  in  assigning  to  juries  being  given  to  married  men  with  small 
children  dependent  upon  them.  The  following  letter  is  a  fair  sample  of 
many  splendid  letters  which  have  been  received  in  this  way: 

Chicago,  October  20,  19 140 

Mr.  Peter  Hoffman: 

Dear  Sir:  In  accordance  with  your  request,  attached  hereto: 

My  name  is  Edgar  A.  Jacobs;  I  am  32  years  old,  German- Amer¬ 
ican,  born  in  Chicago  and  employed  in  the  electrical  trade  for  fifteen 
years.  I  am  married,  have  a  wife  and  three  children. 

Owing  to  the  brick  strike  and  the  present  war  scare  I  have  been 
imable  to  work  steady  and  am  unemployed  for  the  past  four  weeks. 

Contractors  all  tell  me  they  are  doing  very  little  work.  My 
savings  have  all  been  used  up  and  I  am  now  depending  on  relatives’ 
charity  for  food. 

I  therefore  present  my  position  to  you  for  consideration. 

Your  purpose  of  placing  unemployed  worthy  men  is  a  step  towards 
uplifting  the  poor  and  appeals  to  me  as  one  of  the  greatest 
deeds  ever  accomplished  by  a  public  official.  My  reason  for  believ¬ 
ing  the  county  gains  by  having  unemployed  men  for  jurors  is  this: 

That  in  these  days  of  commercialism,  patriotism  often  is  con¬ 
sidered  second,  and  many  men  qualified  for  jury  service  do  not  give 
their  best  efforts  because  they  are  laboring  under  a  mental  strain 


158 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


caused  by  neglecting  their  business.  An  unemployed  man  is  a  will¬ 
ing  juror,  and  willingness  to  serve  is  the  greatest  asset  towards  per¬ 
forming  any  duty. 

Wishing  you  the  success  due  you,  I  am  proud  to  have  the  pleasure 
of  answering  an  official’s  letter  who  has  shown  the  initiative  in  help¬ 
ing  the  unemployed  to  positions  with  Cook  County. 

Sincerely, 

Edgar  A.  Jacobs. 


Bill  presented  to  the  Illinois  General  Assembly  by  the  Public 

Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County. 

TRESPASSING  ON  THE  RIGHT  OF  WAY  OF  RAILROADS 

A  BILL  to  prevent  trespassing  on  the  tracks  and  rights  of  way  of 
railroad  companies  operating  within  this  state  and  to  provide  punishment 
therefor. 

Whereas,  great  loss  of  life  and  limb  results  from  trespassing  upon 
railroad  property  and  rights  of  way; 

Now,  therefore.  The  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois  enact: 

Section  i.  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  unauthorized  person  to  walk, 
ride  or  drive  upon  or  along  the  tracks  or  within  the  right  of  way  of  any 
railroad  company  operating  its  lines  within  this  state,  or  to  cross  such 
tracks  or  right  of  way  at  any  place  other  than  at  a  public  or  private  cross¬ 
ing: 

Provided,  however,  that  none  of  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  apply 
to  employes  or  licensees  of  any  railroad  company  while  engaged  in  the 
performance  of  the  duties  of  their  employment  or  otherwise  acting  pur¬ 
suant  to  the  license,  nor  to  any  person  going  in  or  upon  such  tracks  or 
right  of  way  to  save  human  life  or  to  protect  property,  nor  to  any  person 
going  or  being  upon  or  in  the  depot  and  station  grounds  of  any  such  rail¬ 
road  company  as  a  passenger  or  for  the  purpose  of  transacting  business 
therewith. 

It  is  further  provided  that  any  station  agent  or  section  foreman  in  the 
employ  of  a  railroad  company  doing  business  within  this  state  shall  have 
the  same  power  and  shall  be  charged  with  the  same  duties  in  the  enforce¬ 
ment  of  this  act  as  are  given  to  deputy  sheriffs  by  the  general  laws  of  the 
state. 

Section  2.  Any  person  willfully  violating  the  provisions  of  this  act 
shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  thereof 
before  a  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  shall  be  liable  to  a  fine  of  not  more 
than  one  hundred  dollars,  or  to  imprisonment  in  the  county  jail  for  not 
more  than  ninety  days,  or  to  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment,  in  the  dis¬ 
cretion  of  the  court. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


159 


Fred  Warren* 

TT 

A  Problem  for  Two  Nations 

TT 

Issued  at  the  request  of  Fred  Warren  and  Miss  Hudson  by  Qeo.  Bradshaw, 
author  of  “Prevention  of  Railroad  Accidents,”  “Safety  First,”  “The  Safety 
Movement,”  etc.,  Highland,  N.  T. 

My  name  is  Fred  Warren.  I  live  in  a  small  town  where  there  is  a  large 
railroad  yard.  Ever  since  I  can  remember  I  have  seen  trains,  and  I  always 
like  to  watch  them.  It’s  the  same  way  with  a  lot  of  other  boys  I  know, 
and  I  expect  it’s  the  same  way,  too,  with  grown-up  people,  because  there 
is  always  a  crowd  of  them  at  the  station  to  see  the  trains  come  in.  My 
Dad — I  call  him  Dad  when  we  are  alone  because  we  are  chums — says  that 
the  railroad  men  call  our  station  Hiram  because  Uncle  Hiram  Piper  hasn’t 
missed  a  train  in  twenty  years. 

The  freight  trains  which  come  into  our  town  are  coupled  and  the  cars 
placed  on  different  tracks.  A  lot  of  engines  do  nothing  but  shift  cars 
back  and  forth  day  and  night  and  in  all  kinds  of  bad  weather  when  people 
don’t  work  outside,  unless  they  work  for  railroads.  I  used  to  wonder  why 
they  never  could  get  the  cars  placed  where  they  wanted  them.  One  time 
I  asked  a  man  who  was  giving  signs  to  a  fellow  running  the  engine  why 
he  didn’t  make  up  his  mind  where  he  wanted  the  cars  before  he  started 
to  bump  them  around.  He  says,  ‘'You’re  a  bright  kid.  I  wish  we  had 
you  for  yardmaster.”  I  didn’t  like  that  answer  much,  so  I  asked  Rosco 
Mack,  whose  father  runs  on  the  road,  and  he  said,  “  Because  this  is  a  class¬ 
ification  yard,  and  all  trains  have  to  split  up  here.”  I  didn’t  understand 
what  that  meant,  but  Rosco  looked  so  wise-like  when  he  told  me,  that 
I  just  thought  I  wouldn’t  ask  him  any  more  questions.  I  asked  my  teacher 
about  it,  and  she  said  she  would  see  Mr.  Works,  the  station  agent,  and 
find  out  for  me.  That’s  the  way  wfith  Miss  Hudson.  She  tells  us  to  ask 
all  the  questions  we  want  to,  and  we  go  to  her  to  find  out  a  lot  of  things. 
When  she  can’t  tell  us  at  once,  she  says  she  will  try  to  find  out,  and  she 
always  does.  Sometimes  when  one  of  us  asks  a  question  she  writes  it  on 
the  board  and  tells  all  of  us  to  see  what  we  can  learn  about  it.  We  are 
always  glad  to  have  our  questions  put  on  the  board,  because  we  know 
teacher  will  have  something  to  say  to  us,  and  she  always  makes  things  so 
plain  and  interesting.  Paul  Thompson  says  that  if  Miss  Hudson  had  writ¬ 
ten  the  school  books  nobody  would  have  to  be  made  study  them. 

So  my  question  about  why  they  keep  always  shifting  the  cars  was 
written  on  the  board.  I  knew  Miss  Hudson  was  learning  a  heap  to  tell 
us,  because  I  would  see  her  out  walking  with  Mr.  Works  every  evening. 
Mike  Flanagan  said  she  was  not  finding  out  about  cars,  but  I  knew  better. 
After  a  long  time  she  explained  about  railroad  yards  and  things,  and  now 
we  know  why  they  shift  cars  and  why  railroad  men  have  to  work  day 
and  night  and  in  all  kinds  of  bad  weather.  And  she  told  us  many  other 

*“Fred  Warren;  a  Problem  for  Two  Nations,”  by  Geo.  Bradshaw,  Highland, 
N.  Y.  Copyrighted,  United  States  and  Canada,  1914.  Reproduced  in  this  report  by 
special  permission  of  the  author.  All  rights  reserved. 


160 


( 

BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


FRED  WARREN 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


161 


things  about  railroads  which  we  had  never  thought  of — how  cars  were 
once  run  on  wooden  rails,  and  then  on  wooden  rails  with  strips  of  iron  on 
top;  and  later,  on  iron  rails,  and  why  they  now  use  steel  rails;  how  the 
engine  pumps  air  into  a  tank,  and  when  they  let  it  out  through  a  pipe  it 
pushes  the  brakes  against  the  wheels  and  stops  the  train;  how  cars  are 
loaded  with  machinery  and  things  that  we  eat  and  wear  and  with  toys, 
and  travel  for  thousands  of  miles  without  getting  lost;  how  one  man  in  an 
office  a  hundred  or  more  miles  away  keeps  trains  moving  so  that  they 
meet  and  pass  without  running  together;  and  how  if  all  the  trains  were  to 
stop  running,  even  for  only  a  few  days,  the  people  in  the  big  cities  might 
suffer  from  hunger  and  cold.  And  she  told  us,  too,  that  we  must  not  walk 
or  play  on  railroad  tracks  or  about  cars.  She  said  (I  forget  how  many) 
boys  and  girls  and  grown-up  people  get  hurt  and  killed  every  year  by  being 
around  railroads  when  they  have  no  business  to  be.  I  know  it  was  an 
awful  big  number. 

At  recess  we  boys  talked  about  the  nice  story  Miss  Hudson  had  told 
us  about  railroads,  but  we  were  sorry  she  put  on  that  last  about  keeping 
away  from  tracks  and  cars,  because  all  of  us  wanted  to  mind  her,  and  still 
we  loved  to  play  in  the  yards  and  hop  the  cars.  Several  of  us  had  decided 
to  be  railroad  men.  I  was  going  to  be  an  engineer,  or  maybe  a  conductor, 
and  a  good  one,  like  Mr.  Tapley,  and  after  a  while  I  would  get  a  big  job 
in  the  office  where  the  head  men  stay.  Then  I  would  come  back  home 
in  a  fine  car  all  to  myself,  like  I  had  once  seen  a  man  do.  Jack  Fisher  told 
me  that  his  father  and  everybody  had  to  do  what  that  man  said.  Jack 
called  him  a  superintendent  or  something. 

One  day  when  we  were  on  our  way  from  school  we  stopped  near  the 
yards  and  watehed  the  railroad  men  jump  on  and  off  moving  cars,  run  up 
and  down  the  sides  and  over  the  tops,  and  hop  from  one  to  the  other.  One 
of  the  boys  said,  “Let’s  hop  the  cars.”  Sammy  Atkins  said,  “We. better 
not;  you  know  what  teacher  told  us.”  But  Skinny  Morgan,  the  biggest 
and  oldest  boy  in  the  crowd,  laughed  at  Sammy.  He  had  walked  on  rail¬ 
road  tracks  and  jumped  freight  cars  whenever  he  felt  like  it,  and  had 
never  been  hurt.  So  we  decided  we  would  play  on  the  cars  just  that  once. 
About  that  time  along  come  some  cars  that  the  engine  had  kicked  down 
the  track  and  we  all  ran  and  grabbed  on.  As  I  climbed  up  the  ladder  of 
the  moving  car,  I  forgot  that  I  was  a  boy  who  had  just  come  into  the  yards 
on  my  way  from  school.  I  was  a  man — a  railroad  man — getting  pay  for 
riding  on  cars.  Just  then  a  man  hollered,  “You  kids  get  out  of  here  before 
you  get  hurt.  ”  But  we  stayed  on  the  cars,  and  when  they  stopped  we  were 
far  enough  away  from  this  man,  so  we  didn’t  care.  In  a  little  while  a  long 
freight  come  pulling  by.  That  was  just  the  thing,  because  it  was  a  real 
train  with  an  engine^  Buster  Bates  said,  “Let’s  grab  on,  boys,  and  ride 
up  to  Pigeon  Hill;  it  always  runs  slow  there,  and  we  can  get  off.’’  So  we 
began  to  climb  on.  I  grabbed  the  iron  handle  at  the  end  of  a  gondola,  and 
was  just  ready  to  swing  up  when  I  stubbed  my  toe  and  fell  down.  By  that 
time  the  train  was  going  at  a  pretty  good  gait  and  I  was  dragged  along, 
holding  to  the  handle.  I  could  not  get  on  my  feet  again  and  when  I  let 
go  the  handle  I  rolled  over  and  my  leg  got  under  the  wheels.  The  first 
wheel,  of  course,  crushed  my  leg  so  that  it  hung  only  by  a  shred,  but  as  I 
lay  there  it  seemed  a  thousand  other  wheels  had  to  pass  over  me.  The 
noise  of  the  train  kept  the  other  boys  from  hearing  my  cries,  and  I  might 
have  been  left  by  the  track  to  bleed  to  death  had  it  not  been  for  the  con¬ 
ductor  on  the  rear  platform  of  the  caboose,  who  saw  me  as  he  passed.  The 
train  stopped,  and  the  conductor  hurried  with  me  in  his  arms  to  a  small 
building  in  the  yards,  where  the  doctor  was  called.  I  was  rushed  to  the 


162 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


hospital  and  put  upon  a  table  where  a  nurse  in  white  dress  and  cap  gave 
me  something  which  she  said  would  stop  the  pain.  It  made  me  go  to  sleep, 
and  when  I  woke  up  I  was  on  a  little  narrow  bed  in  a  big  room  with  white 
walls.  There  were  a  lot  of  other  beds  in  this  room,  all  just  alike,  and  all 
with  people  on  them.  I  remember  I  was  so  sick  and  in  so  much  pain  that 
I  wished  I  had  been  one  of  those  many  boys  teacher  told  about  who  get 
killed  doing  what  I  had  done.  But  now  I  know  that  was  a  wicked  wish. 
I  wondered  what  Mother  and  Dad  and  Miss  Hudson  would  think.  Would 
they  scold  me? 

When  Mother  came,  she  kneeled  by  my  little  cot,  and,  placing  her 
soft  hand  upon  my  head,  kissed  me  and  thanked  God  that  her  boy  had 
been  spared.  Dad  said,  “It’s  all  right,  my  boy;  we  are  chums  just  the 
same.”  And  Miss  Hudson.  As  soon  as  I  got  well  enough  she  would  come 
to  see  me  every  day  after  school,  bringing  me  flowers  and  fruit  and  story¬ 
books.  Sometimes  she  would  sit  by  my  side  and  tell  me  a  story  of  her 
own,  which  was  so  much  better  than  those  I  read,  even  in  the  books  that 
she  brought  me.  But  she  never  once  said  a  word  about  the  cars,  nor  even 
asked  me  how  I  got  hurt. 

I  am  well  now,  and  the  place  where  the  leg  was  don’t  hurt  me  much, 
except  at  times,  but  it  will  always  hurt  me  to  think  how  I  brought  grief 
to  the  hearts  of  the  best  mother  and  dad  and  teacher  in  the  world. 

When  I  got  back  to  school  I  found  my  place  on  the  ball  team  had  been 
taken  by  another  boy.  I  knew  this  was  right,  but  I  couldn’t  help  feeling 
sad,  just  the  same.  I  didn’t  often  watch  them  play  ball,  and  teacher  seemed 
to  take  notice  of  this.  She  would  have  me  go  with  her  to  the  park,  where 
we  studied  the  flowers  and  the  plants  and  the  birds.  One  day  we  found 
a  wild  flower  we  didn’t  know  the  name  of.  Teacher  said,  “We  won’t  ask 
anybody,  but  we  will  make  the  flower  tell  us  its  own  name.’’  We  sat 
down  in  the  shade  of  a  tree,  and  while  I  held  the  flower  she  opened  a  book 
she  had  brought  along,  and  the  little  stranger,  surprised  and  pleased  to 
find  that  a  book  should  tell  where  she  lived  and  how  she  dressed,  and  call 
her  beautiful,  just  couldn’t  keep  from  telling  us  her  name. 

One  day  Miss  Hudson  said,  “Fred,  you  like  stories  so  well.  I’ve  been 
wondering  if  you  could  write  one  for  me.’’  It  pleased  me  so  much  to  think 
of  doing  something  for  her,  and  without  a  thought  I  replied,  “Yes,  if  you 
want  me  to.’’  “Then  write  me  a  story  about  how  a  boy  got  hurt  on  the 
railroad.  We  will  have  it  printed,  with  your  name  to  it,  and  maybe  with 
your  picture,  so  that  boys  and  girls  all  over  our  country,  and  their  parents, 
too,  if  they  wish,  may  read  it.  And  when  you  have  your  story  ready, 
maybe  I  shall  write  something  to  print  with  it,  if  you  don’t  care.’’ 

Fred  Warren. 


MISS  HUDSON^S  LESSON  IN  GEOGRAPHY  AND  HISTORY 

I  wonder  if  you  who  may  read  Fred  Warren’s  story  will  have  any  idea 
how  many  men,  women  and  children  are  injured  and  killed  every  year  in 
the  United  States  and  Canada  while  getting  on  or  off  moving  cars,  riding 
cars  and  engines,  and  walking  along  railroad  tracks.  I  don’t  mean  rail¬ 
road  men  nor  passengers,  nor  people  crossing  the  tracks  at  highways.  I 
mean  trespassers — those  who  go  on  railroads  or  get  upon  cars  or  engines 
without  right  to  do  so.  Very  lew  of  the  people  who  get  killed  in  this  way 
are  tramps  or  hoboes.  Most  of  them  are  men  and  women  like  your  fathers 
and  mothers  or  boys  and  girls  like  you. 

In  olden  times  the  bodies  of  persons  who  killed  themselves  were  buried 
at  crossroads,  where  the  greatest  number  of  people  in  passing  would  see 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


163 


the  graves  and  be  reminded  of  their  sad  fate.  If  we  in  the  United  States 
and  Canada  should  bury  those  who  get  killed  while  trespassing  on  rail¬ 
road  property  at  the  mile  posts,  one  at  each  post,  in  order  that  people 
when  traveling  on  the  railroads  may  see  the  graves  and  be  warned  thereby 
against  this  dangerous  practice,  we  would  have  IN  ONLY  ONE  YEAR 
a  continuous  line  of  mile  post  tombs  from  Halifax  to  Quebec,  Montreal, 
Toronto,  Detroit,  Chicago,  Memphis,  New  Orleans,  El  Paso,  Los  Angeles, 
San  Francisco  and  Salt  Lake  City. 

Now,  ask  your  teacher  to  get  timetable  folders  issued  by  the  railroads 
connecting  the  cities  mentioned.  Mr.  Works  let  me  have  these  folders, 
and  he  said  that  all  station  agents  had  them,  or  knew  where  to  get  them, 
and  that  they  would  gladly  supply  them  to  teachers. 

When  you  get  the  folders,  first  look  at  the  maps.  Some  of  them  have 
excellent  maps,  and  you  can  learn  geography  from  them  if  you  like.  Now 
study  the  timetables  and  tell  your  teacher  how  many  persons  are  killed 
every  year  while  trespassing  on  railroads.  How  many  are  killed  for  each 
day  in  the  year? 

Perhaps  some  of  you  may  prefer  a  lesson  in  history.  Then  read  about 
the  War  of  1812,  when  the  United  States  and  Canada  (now  such  good 
neighbors  and  friends  that  it  seems  hardly  possible  they  could  have  ever 
been  otherwise)  were  engaged  for  three  years  in  fighting  each  other.  Learn 
how  Toronto  (then  a  village  called  York)  and  Washington  were  burned; 
and  about  the  battles  of  Lundy’s  Lane  and  Lake  Erie;  of  the  Thames  and 
New  Orleans.  Yet  during  the  past  three  years  in  these  two  countries  as 
many  people  were  killed  while  trespassing  on  railroads  as  were  killed  in  all 
the  battles  and  skirmishes  of  that  war.  And  while  those  in  the  war  died 
fighting  for  the  flags  of  their  countries,  just  as  you  should  and  would 
today  if  called  upon,  the  others  died  doing  what  they  had  no  right  to  do, 
and  no  good  reason  for  doing. 


THE  PROBLEM 

Trespassing  on  railroads  has  become  a  national  evil.  Armies  of  men, 
women  and  children  are  being  killed  and  maimed,  from  an  unnecessary 
risk,  AND  NOT  A  HAND  IS  RAISED  TO  STAY  THE  SLAUGHTER. 
The  railroads  are  practically  powerless  in  the  matter.  Only  an  aroused 
and  determined  public  sentiment  can  solve  the  problem. 

PARENTS:  Will  you  not  teach  your  children  the  danger  of  walk¬ 
ing  or  playing  on  railroad  tracks  or  about  cars? 

TEACHERS:  Won’t  you  talk  to  the  children  about  the  protection 
of  their  lives  and  limbs?  Children  like  stories.  Read  them  this  one  of 
Fred  Warren  or  tell  them  a  better  one  of  your  own. 

MINISTERS:  Is  this  not  a  subject  worthy  of  your  consideration 
and  comment? 

EMPLOYERS:  Will  you  not,  in  the  interest  of  humane  and  econ¬ 
omic  policies,  use  all  proper  means  in  your  power  to  prevent  your  employes 
from  trespassing  on  railroad  property?  A  large  percentage  of  those  injured 
and  killed  are  laboring  men  going  to  and  from  their  work. 

LEGISLATORS,  JUDGES  AND  CITIZENS:  When  will  you 
bring  about  the  enactment  of  laws,  where  necessary,  and  the  enforcement 
of  existing  laws  to  stop  trespassing  on  railroads? 

(End  of  “Fred  Warren”  Story) 


164 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


165 


J 


Why  Not  Practice  Safety  First? 

TT 

/ 

A  Record  of  the  Dead — A  Lesson  to  the  Living 

TT 

49,239  Sudden,  Violent  and  Accidental  Deaths  in  the  Ten  Yeeirs*  Records 

of  the  Coroner  of  Cook  County. 

TT 

464  Lives  Saved  in  1914  as  a  Result  of  the  Co-operation  of  the  Coroner’s 
Office,  the  Public  Safety  Commission  and  the  Safety  Departments 
of  the  Railroads,  Street  Railways,  Factories,  Etc. 


The  total  Coroner’s  cases  for  the  period  during  which 
has  occupied  the  office  is  49,239,  divided  as  follows: 

w  s 

3  <D 

PL(  o 
C 

1905  1906  1907  1908  1909  1910  I9II  1912  1913  1914  1914 

3714423845074467493754095454527456485591  5998  5534  464 

While  a  saving  of  464  lives  in  1914  is  shown  in  fourteen  special  divisions 
on  the  annexed  chart  as  a  result  of  the  public. safety  crusade,  it  is  instruc¬ 
tive  to  note  the  fields  that  show  an  increase  instead  of  a  decrease  in  1914, 
on  account  of  it  being  impossible  as  yet  to  reach  these  divisions  by  edu¬ 
cational  methods,  and  which  are  as  follows: 


Mr.  Hoffman 


o 
w  w 

G  ^ 


c/3  Ti 

a>  (u 
^  > 
l-H  C/3 


1914  1914 


Natural 

Causes 

Suicide 

1 

Homicide 

Horse 

Vehicles 

Alcoholism 

Drowning 

Septicaemia 

Under 

Anaesthetic 

Miscellaneous 

63 

34 

59 

26 

52 

32 

14 

10 

117 

The  figures  in  Column  5  for  1914  are  based  upon  the  percentage  of 
increase  in  each  division  during  1911,  1912  and  1913,  and  indicate  the 
number  of  deaths  which  the  records  show  would  have  occurred  but  for 
the  influence  of  the  Safety  First  movement. 


166  BETTER  BE  vSAFE  THAN  SORRY 


The  Fourteen  Divisions  in 
which  Education  and  Legis¬ 
lation  have  Lowered  the 
Death  Rate  in  Coroner’s 
Cases. 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1 

Average  Per 

Cent  Increase 

for  3  Years. 

Figures  Based 

on  Average 

Increase, 

3  Years,  1914. 

Actual 

Number 

for  1914 

Lives  Saved 

in  1914. 

Automobile . 

75 

98 

136 

345 

183 

143 

40 

Asphyxiation . • 

169 

I7I 

212 

I2J 

238 

181 

57 

Burns  and  Scalds . 

175 

187 

232 

268 

157 

1 1 1 

Elevators . 

38 

44 

40 

3i 

41 

38 

3 

Electrocution . 

38 

16 

32 

21 

39 

29 

10 

Explosion . 

9 

17 

16 

411 

23 

1 1 

12 

Falls . 

349 

363 

366 

2| 

375 

340 

35 

Firearms . 

17 

22 

24 

19 

29 

19 

10 

Motorcycle . 

•  • 

8 

14 

75 

25 

16 

9 

Poisonings . 

51 

52 

64 

12J 

72 

57 

15 

Railroad . 

334 

326 

360 

4 

374 

282 

92 

Street  Car . 

161 

209 

165 

172 

142 

30 

Suffocation  by  Water 
Heaters . 

4 

7 

10 

59 

16 

3 

13 

Suffocation  by  Poison¬ 
ous  Gases . 

4 

1 1 

175 

30 

3 

27 

A  Total  of . 

464 

Lives  Saved  in  Cook  County,  Illinois,  during  1914  by  converting 
the  Coroner’s  office  into  a  Bureau  of  Accident  Prevention  and  securing 
the  co-operation  of  railway  and  street  car  companies,  automobile  and 
factory  interests,  the  schools,  churches,  newspapers,  clubs  and  the  Public 
Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County. 


EXPLANATORY 

Automobile — For  five  years  the  increase  in  automobile  fatalities  has 
been  in  the  same  ratio  as  the  increase  in  the  number  in  use.  This 
ratio  was  reduced  in  1914,  40  lives  being  saved. 

Asphyxiation — The  majority  of  asphyxiations  have  been  in  the  families 
of  foreigners.  Instruction  in  how  to  handle  gas  safely  is  rapidly 
reducing  this  class  of  deaths. 


STOP!  T?TTNK!  LOOK:  AND  LISTEN! 


107 


Burns  and  Scalds — No  doubt  this  large  decrease  in  burns  and  scalds 
has  been  largely  influenced  by  the  safety  lectures  to  300,000  children 
in  the  schools  and  the  distribution  of  30,000  of  the  Biennial  Report 
and  special  safety  literature.  Much  more  can  be  done  in  1915. 

Elevators — No  doubt  a  more  concerted  effort  during  1915  can  bring 
about  a  greater  decrease  in  elevator  accidents. 

Electrocution — Much  more  safety  education  is  necessary  to  induce 
linemen  to  always  use  their  safety  appliances,  and  to  induce  boys 
not  to  play  around  poles  bearing  electric  wires. 

Explosion — By  the  Coroner’s  recommendation  only  experienced  men 
are  now  allowed  to  handle  explosives.  More  education  will  still 
further  reduce  this  class  of  deaths. 

Falls — This  large  division  is  capable  of  much  greater  decrease,  involving 
general  education  at  home,  in  schools  and  in  the  proper  care  of  self, 
and  by  not  converting  the  means  of  refreshment  into  intemperance 
or  excess. 

Firearms — Education  of  old  and  young  to  the  idea  that  firearms  are 
always  a  menace  will  gradually  do  away  with  shootings. 

Motorcycles — The  ratio  of  motorcycle  deaths  in  1914  was  9  less  than 
the  usual  number  compared  with  the  total  in  use. 

Poisonings — The  Coroner’s  recommendation  of  a  law  regulating  the 
shape  of  bottles  and  poison  tablets  is  a  step  toward  wiping  out  this 
evil. 

Railroad — In  the  face  of  increase  in  population,  traffic  mileage  and 
rolling  stock,  this  decrease  in  the  ratio  of  railroad  fatalities  speaks 
in  the  highest  terms  of  the  co-operation  of  the  companies  in  Cook 
County  with  the  Coroner  and  the  Public  Safety  Commission. 

Street  Car — The  splendid  co-operation  of  the  street  railways  with  all 
educational  work  along  Safety  First  lines  is  expressed  in  a  substantial 
decrease. 

Suffocation  by  Water  Heaters — By  the  Coroner’s  recommendation 
water  heaters  must  now  be  connected  by  vent  pipe  with  the  out¬ 
side  air.  This  will  finally  do  away  entirely  with  this  class  of  deaths. 

Suffocated  by  Poisonous  Gases  —  By  the  Coroner’s  recommendation 
ammonia  pipes  are  now  regularly  inspected,  and  this  class  of  deaths 
is  disappearing. 


168 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  vSORRY 


SAFETY  FIRST  SUGGESTIONS 

By  CHARLES  M.  HAYES 

President  Chicago  Motor  Club 

President  Public  Safety  Commission  of  Chicago  and  Cook  County 

Respect  the  right  of  pedestrians. 

Slow  down  at  street  intersections. 

‘‘Obey  the  laws;  avoid  the  courts.” 

Don’t  imagine  you  are  a  speed  king. 

Be  considerate  of  the  other  motorists. 

“Better  to  cause  a  delay  than  an  accident.’’ 

Don’t  pass  on  the  left-hand  side  of  a  street  car. 

Don’t  endanger  the  lives  and  property  of  others. 

Use  Weed  chains  when  the  pavements  are  slippery. 

Do  not  cover  cross-walks  when  stopped  by  crossing  officer. 

Always  pass  another  vehicle  on  the  left,  excepting  street  cars. 

Keep  to  the  right,  and  stop  only  on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  street. 

Turn  corners  at  right  angles  from  center  of  the  street  intersections. 

Don’t  bring  a  hardship  on  the  motoring  fraternity  by  your  foolhardy 

acts. 

When  you  don’t  know  what  to  do,  stop;  then  take  plenty  of  time  and 
think  it  over. 

Test  your  brakes  every  morning.  Let  your  dealer  inspect  your  brakes 
every  month. 

Don’t  stop  short,  don’t  turn  to  the  right  or  left,  until  you  have  signaled 
vehicle  behind  you. 

Don’t  attempt  to  cut  in  between  street  cars  going  in  opposite  direc¬ 
tions  (the  street  car  cannot  turn  out). 

Keep  within  the  speed  limit,  approach  all  crossings  carefully  and 
obey  the  signal  of  the  crossing  officer. 

Insist  upon  the  automobile  seller  teaching  you  thoroughly  how  to 
operate  your  car  intelligently  and  safely. 

If  you  were  driving  at  the  rate  of  twenty  miles  an  hour,  how  many 
feet  would  it  require  to  bring  your  car  to  a  dead  stop? 

Never  under  any  circumstances  touch  liquor  in  any  form  while  driv¬ 
ing;  never  ride  in  a  car  whose  driver  has  been  drinking. 

Every  driver  should  realize  his  great  responsibility  and  pay  strict 
attention  to  his  duties  while  on  the  streets  and  highways. 

We  not  only  seek  the  co-operation  ot  every  member  of  the  Chicago 
Motor  Club,  but  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  the  city  of  Chicago, 
state  of  Illinois  and  in  the  United  States,  in  the  work  of  saving  human  life 
and  the  prevention  of  accidents. 

We  sincerely  hope  that  every  member  of  the  Chicago  Motor  Club 
will  make  it  his  business  to  so  conduct  himself  that  there  will  be  no  possible 
opportunity  for  ill  criticism  of  his  conduct  while  operating  a  motor  car 
the  city  of  Chicago  and  that  he  will  personally  use  his  best  endeavors 
to  influence  others  to  respect  the  rights  of  other  users  of  the  road,  as  well 
as  the  pedestrian. 

PRACTICE  SAFETY  FIRST.  DO  YOUR  DUTY  AND  JOIN  THE 
CHICAGO  MOTOR  CLUB. 

RULES  OF  THE  ROAD 
BE  MASTER  OF  YOUR  CAR  AT  ALL  TIMES 

Freshly  oiled  roads  are  dangerous — drive  slow. 

Don’t  attempt  to  turn  out  of  ruts  while  under  speed. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


169 


When  unable  to  see  what  is  ahead  AT  ANY  TIME,  slow  down. 

Never  under  any  circumstances  drive  fast  approaching  or  passing  a 
school. 

,  Be  considerate  at  all  times.  Other  users  of  the  road  have  equal  rights 
with  you. 

“Excuse  my  dust”  is  no  excuse  to  make  the  other  fellow  eat  your 
dust  for  forty  miles.  Be  considerate. 

When  meeting  fellow  motorists  in  trouble  on  the  highway,  stop  and 
offer  assistance.  Your  turn  may  be  next. 

Remember,  at  the  bottom  of  each  hill  you  will  usually  find  a  culvert, 
some  good  and  some  bad;  don’t  take  a  chance. 

When  approaching  a  fractious  horse,  stop  your  car,  kill  your  motor, 
get  out  and  offer  to  assist  in  leading  the  horse  by. 

*  Use  caution  when  driving  off  of  the  main  road  into  the  grass.  Bad 
culverts  or  loose  sand  and  dirt  will  cause  an  accident. 

When  approaching  another  automobile  at  night,  coming  in  the  opposite 
direction,  slow  down  and  turn  down  or  turn  out  your  glaring  headlights. 

Speed  means  serious  and  fatal  accidents,  increased  tire  and  repair 
expense,  nervous  prostration,  loss  of  appetite,  loss  of  money,  time  and 
pleasant  disposition. 

Upon  signal  from  another  driver  approaching  from  the  rear,  pull 
over  to  the  extreme  right  and  allow  him  to  pass.  The  law  compels  you, 
courtesy  demands  you. 

Spasmodic  spurts  of  speed  are  dangerous.  Hold  the  speed  of  your 
car  steady  around  twenty  miles  per  hour  and  you  will  get  there  more 
quickly,  safely,  pleasantly  and  at  less  expense. 

In  case  of  accidents,  get  the  name  of  every  witness  and  immediately 
draw  a  diagram  of  the  position  of  the  car  with  reference  to  all  surrounding 
objects,  as  well  as  the  curb  lines.  This  information  might  save  you  annoy¬ 
ance,  time  and  money  later  on. 


GO  SLOW 

Passing  schools,  children,  passing  vehicles,  around  corners,  approach¬ 
ing  crossings. 


STOP 

Always  Safety  First. 

Sound  signal  when  approaching  obstructed  crossings. 

Drive  moderately  on  strange  roads — you  never  can  tell. 

Keep  “Cut-out”  closed  within  city  and  town  limits — avoid  arrest  and 

fine. 

At  the  approach  of  fire  department,  ambulance  and  police  department 
vehicles,  drive  at  once  to  right-hand  curb  and  stop. 

When  in  doubt — at  railroad  crossings,  behind  street  cars  taking  on 
or  discharging  passengers.  Better  to  cause  a  delay  than  an  accident. 


Chicago  City  Ordinance  regulating  the  time  allowed  to  stand 
in  the  Loop  district  to  thirty  minutes: 

Sec.  10.  No  vehicle  not  in  charge  of  a  driver  shall,  between  6  a.  m. 
and  7  p.  m.,  stand  in  any  street  or  alley  w’ithin  the  district  bounded  by 
Lake  Street,  Wabash  Avenue,  Harrison  and  Market  Streets  for  a  period 
longer  than  sixty  minutes.  Amended  on  March  ist,  1915,  limiting  time 
to  tiiirty  minutes. 


170 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Americans  Killed  in  Times  of 

Peace 


It  has  never  been  known  with  any  scientific 
accuracy  what  was  the  actual  loss  of  life  in 
the  American  Civil  War.  But  it  has  been 
estimated  that  not  less  than  (1,000,000) 

One  Million  Men  Were  Killed 

or  died  by  wounds,  disease  and  exposure. 

Since  then  the  United  States  has  suffered 
the  loss  of  about  five  or  six  thousand  more 
by  war.  But  there  are 

More  Americans  Killed 


in  times  of  PEACE  than  in  WAR: 


Here  is  the  record  of  death  by  accident 
according  to  Government  “Mortality  Statis¬ 
tics’’  for  1913  : 


Deaths  by  poisoning  .  .  2110 

Deaths  by  fire  ....  5884 

Deaths  by  gas  ....  2271 

Deaths  by  drowning  .  .  6468 

Deaths  by  firearms  .  .  .  1572 

Deaths  by  falls,  etc.  .  .  9842 

Deaths  by  railroad  disasters  8212 

Total  loss  in 


Deaths  by  street  cars  .  .  1998 

Deaths  by  automobiles  .  2488 

Deaths  by  other  vehicles  .  2381 

Deaths  by  mines  and  quarries  2385 
Deaths  by  machines  .  .  .  1526 

Deaths  by  landslides  .  .  601 

Various  others .  6273 

e  year,  54,011 


which  would  mean  more  than  500,000  (half 
a  million)  in  ten  years,  or  in  sixty  years, 
which  is  about  the  period  of  the  above  war 
statistics,  the  deaths  by  accident  amount 
to  over  three  millions. 

Fully  one-half  of  these  so-called  “Accidents” 
are  preventable.  By  “Safety  First” activity 
and  education,  250,000  lives  may  be  saved 
in  the  United  States  during  the  next  ten  years 

To  neglect  so  great  a  gain  of  human  life  is 
a  crime. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


171 


APPENDIX 

Directions  for  Restoring  the  Apparently  Drowned 


{From  the  Official  Document  of  the  U.  S,  Governmenty  iQog) 

Rule  I.  Arouse  the  Patient. — Do  not  move  the  patient  unless 
in  danger  of  freezing;  instantly  expose  the  face  to  the  air,  toward  the  wind 
if  there  be  any;  wipe  dry  the  mouth  and  nostrils;  rip  the  clothing  so  as  to 
expose  the  chest  and  waist;  give  two  or  three  quick,  smarting  slaps  on  the 
chest  with  the  open  hand. 

If  the  patient  does  not  revive  proceed  immediately  as  follows: 


Fig.  1. — Expelling  Water  from  body. 


Rule  II.  To  Expel  Water  from  the  Stomach  and  Chest  (See 
Fig.  1).  Separate  the  jaws  and  keep  them  apart  by  placing  between  the 
teeth  a  cork  or  small  bit  of  wood;  turn  the  patient  on  his  face,  a  large 
bundle  of  tightly  rolled  clothing  being  placed  beneath  the  stomach;  press 
heavily  on  the  back  over  it  for  half  a  minute,  or  as  long  as  fluids  flow 
freely  from  the  mouth. 

Rule  III.  To  Produce  Breathing  (See  Figs.  2  and  3).— Clear 
the  mouth  and  throat  of  mucus  by  introducing  into  the  throat  the  cor¬ 
ner  of  a  handkerchief  wrapped  closely  around  the  forefinger;  turn  the 
patient  on  the  back,  the  roll  of  clothing  being  so  placed  as  to  raise  the 


172 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


pit  of  the  stomach  above  the  level  of  the  rest  of  the  body.  Let  an  assist¬ 
ant  with  a  handkerchief  or  piece  of  dry  cloth  draw  the  tip  of  the  tongue 
out  of  one  corner  of  the  mouth  (which  prevents  the  tongue  from  falling 
back  and  choking  the  entrance  to  the  windpipe),  and  keep^it  projecting 
a  little  beyond  the  lips.  Let  another  assistant  gr^sp  the  arms  just  below 
the  elbows  and  draw  them  steadily  upward  by  the  sides  of  the  patient’s 
head  to  the  ground,  the  hands  nearly  meeting  (which  enlarges  the  capacity 
of  the  chest  and  induces  inspiration). 


Fig.  2. — Movements  to  produce  inspiration. 


'  While  this  is  being  done  let  a  third  assistant  take  position  astride 
the  patient’s  hips  with  his  elbows  resting  upon  his  own  knees,  his  hands 
extended  ready  for  action.  Next  let  the  assistant  standing  at  the  head 
turn  down  the  patient’s  arms  to  the  sides  of  the  body,  the  assistant  holding 
the  tongue  changing  hands  if  necessary «  to  let  the  arms  pass.  Just 
before  the  patient’s  hands  reach  the  ground,  the  man  astride  the  body 
will  grasp  the  body  with  his  hands,  the  balls  of  the  thumbs  resting  on 
either  side  of  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  the  fingers  falling  into  the  grooves 
between  the  short  ribs.  Now,  using  his  knees  as  a  pivot,  he  will  at  the 
moment  the  patient’s  bands  touch  the  ground  throw  (not  too  suddenly) 
all  his  weight  forward  on  his  hands,  and  at  the  same  time  squeeze  the 
waist  between  them  as  if  he  wished  to  force  anything  in  the  chest  upward 
out  of  the  mouth;  he  will  deepen  the  pressure  while  he  slowly  counts  one, 
two,  three,  four,  then  suddenly  let  go  with  a  final  push,  which  will  spring 
him  back  to  his  first  position. This  completes  expiration. 

At  the  instant  of  his  letting  go,  the  man  at  the  patient’s  head  will 
again  draw  the  arms  steadily  upward  to  the  sides  of  the  patient’s  head,  as 


o  Changing  hands  will  be  found  unnecessary  after  some  practice;  the  tongue,  how¬ 
ever,  must  not  be  released. 

6  A  child  or  very  delicate  patient  must,  of  course,  be  more  gently  handled. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


173 


Fig.  3. — Movements  to  produce  expiration. 


before  (the  assistant  holding  the  tongue  again  changing  hands  to  let  the 
arms  pass  if  necessary),  holding  them  there  while  he  slowly  counts  one,  two, 
three,  four. 

Repeat  these  movements  deliberately  and  perseveringly  twelve  to 
fifteen  times  in  every  minute — thus  imitating  the  natural  motions  of 
breathing. 

If  natural  breathing  be  not  restored  after  a  .trial  of  the  bellows  move¬ 
ment  for  the  space  of  about  four  minutes,  then  turn  the  patient  a  second 
time  on  the  stomach,  as  directed  in  Rule  II,  rolling  the  body  in  the  oppo¬ 
site  direction  from  that  in  which  it  was  first  turned,  for  the  purpose  of 
freeing  the  air  passage  from  any  remaining  water.  Continue  the  artificial 
respiration  from  one  to  four  hours,  or  until  the  patient  breathes,  according 
to  Rule  III;  and  for  awhile  after  the  appearance  of  returning  life  carefully 
aid  the  first  short  gasps  until  deepened  into  full  breaths.  Continue  the 
drying  and  rubbing,  which  should  have  been  unceasingly  practiced  from 
the  beginning  by  assistants,  taking  care  not  to  interfere  with  the  means 
employed  to  produce  breathing.  Thus  the  limbs  of  the  patient  should  be 
rubbed,  always  in  an  upward  direction  toward  the  body,  with  firm  grasping 
pressure  and  energy,  using  the  bare  hands,  dry  flannels  or  handkerchiefs, 
and  continuing  the  friction  under  the  blankets  or  over  the  dry  clothing. 
The  warmth  of  the  body  can  also  be  promoted  by  the  application  of  hot 
flannels  to  the  stomach  and  armpits,  bottles  or  bladders  of  hot  water, 
heated  bricks,  etc.,  to  the  limbs  and  soles  of  feet. 

Rule  IV.  After-Treatment. — Externally:  As  soon  as  breathing 
is  established  let  the  patient  be  stripped  of  all  wet  clothing,  wrapped  in 
blankets  only,  put  to  bed  comfortably  warm,  but  with  a  free  circulation 


174 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


of  fresh  air,  and  left  to  perfect  rest.  Internally:  Give  whisky  or  brandy 
and  hot  water  in  doses  of  a  teaspocnful  to  a  tablespoonful,  according  to  the 
weight  of  the  patient,  or  other  stimulant  at  hand,  every  ten  or  fifteen 
minutes  for  the  first  hour,  and  as  often  thereafter  as  may  seem  expedient. 
Later  manifestations:  After  reaction  is  fully  established  there  is  great 
danger  of  congestion  of  the  lungs,  and  if  perfect  rest  is  not  maintained  for 
at  least  forty-eight  hours  it  sometimes  occurs  that  the  patient  is  seized 
with  great  difficulty  of  breathing,  and  death  is  liable  to  follow  unless  im¬ 
mediate  relief  is  afforded.  In  such  cases  apply  a  large  mustard  plaster 
over  the  breast.  If  the  patient  gasps  for  breath  before  the  mustard  takes 
effect,  assist  the  breathing  by  carefully  repeating  the  artificial  respiration. 


RESTORATIVE  AID  BY  ONE  PERSON 
Modification  of  Rule  III. 

(To  be  used  after  Rules  I  and  II,  in  case  no  assistance  is  at  hand.) 

To  Produce  ResPiRATiON. — If  no  assistance  is  at  hand  and  one 
person  must  work  alone,  place  the  patient  on  his  back  with  the  shoulders 


slightly  raised  on  a  folded  article  of.  clothing;  draw  forward  the  tongue 
and  keep  it  projecting  just  beyond  the  lips;  if  the  lower  jaw  be  lifted  the 
teeth  may  be  made  to  hold  the  tongue  in  place;  it  may  be  necessary  to 
retain  the  tongue  by  passing  a  handkerchief  under  the  chin  and  tying  it 
over  the  head. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN! 


175 


Grasp  the  arms  just  below  the  elbows  and  draw  them  steadily  upward 
by  the  sides  of  the  patient’s  head  to  the  ground,  the  hands  nearly  meeting. 
(See  Fig.  4.) 

Next  lower  the  arms  to  the  sides  and  press  firmly  downward  and  in¬ 
ward  on  the  sides  and  in  front  of  the  chest  over  the  lower  ribs,  drawing 
toward  the  patient’s  head.  (See  Fig.  5.) 


Fig.  6. — Movements  by  one  person  to  produce  expiration. 
Repeat  these  movements  twelve  to  fifteen  times  every  minute,  etc 


176 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


Instructions  for  Saving  Drowning  Persons  by  Swim¬ 
ming  to  Their  Relief 


1.  When  you  approach  a  person  drowning  in  the  water  assure  him 
with  a  loud  and  firm  voice  that  he  is  safe. 

2.  Before  jumping  in  to  save  him,  divest  yourself  as  far  and  as 
quickly  as  possible  of  all  clothes;  tear  them  off  if  necessary;  but  if  there  is 
not  time,  loose  at  all  events  the  foot  of  your  drawers,  if  they  are  tied,  as 
if  you  do  not  do  so,  they  fill  with  water  and  drag  you. 

3.  On  swimming  to  a  person  in  the  sea.  if  he  be  struggling  do  not  seize 
him  then,  but  keep  off  for  a  few  seconds  till  he  gets  quiet,  for  it  is  sheer 
madness  to  take  hold  of  a  man  when  he  is  struggling  in  the  water,  and  if 
you  do  you  run  a  great  risk. 

4.  Then  get  close  to  him  and  take  fast  hold  of  the  hair  of  his  head, 
turn  him  as  quickly  as  possible  onto  his  back,  give  him  a  sudden  pull,  and 
this  will  cause  him  to  float,  then  throw  yourself  on  your  back  also  and 
swim  for  the  shore,  both  hands  having  hold  of  his  hair,  you  on  your  back 
and  he  also  on  his,  and  of  course  his  back  to  your  stomach.  In  this  way 
you  will  get  sooner  and  safer  ashore  than  by  any  other  means,  and  you  can 
easily  thus  swim  with  two  or  three  persons;  the  writer  has  even,  as  an  ex¬ 
periment,  done  it  with  four,  and  gone  with  them  40  or  50  yards  in  the  sea. 
One  great  advantage  of  this  method  is  that  it  enables  you  to  keep  your 
head  up  and  also  to  hold  the  person’s  head  up  you  are  trying  to  save.  It 
is  of  primary  importance  that  you  take  fast  hold  of  the  hair  and  throw 
both  the  person  and  yourself  on  your  backs.  After  many  experiments, 
it  is  usually  found  preferable  to  all  other  methods.  You  can  in  this  man¬ 
ner  float  nearly  as  long  as  you  please,  or  until  a  boat  or  other  help  can  be 
obtained. 

5.  It  is  believed  there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  death  grasp;  at  least  it  is 
very  unusual  to  witness  it.  As  soon  as  a  drowning  man  begins  to  get 
feeble  and  to  lose  his  recollection,  he  gradually  slackens  his  hold  until  he 
quits  it  altogether.  No  apprehension  need,  therefore,  be  felt  on  that  head 
when  attempting  to  rescue  a  drowning  person. 

6.  After  a  person  has  sunk  to  the  bottom,  if  the  water  be  smooth,  the 
exact  position  where  the  body  lies  may  be  known  by  the  air  bubbles,  which 
will  occasionally  rise  to  the  surface,  allowance  being  of  course  made  for  the 
motion  of  the  water,  if  in  a  tideway  or  stream,  which  will  have  carried  the 
bubbles  out  of  a  perpendicular  course  in  rising  to  the  surface.  Oftentimes 
a  body  may  be  regained  from  the  bottom,  before  too  late  for  recovery,  by 
diving  for  it  in  the  direction  indicated  by  these  bubbles. 

7.  On  rescuing  a  person  by  diving  to  the  bottom,  the  hair  of  the  head 
should  be  seized  by  one  hand  only,  and  the  other  used  in  conjunction  with 
the  feet  in  raising  yourself  and  the  drowning  person  to  the  surface. 

8.  If  in  the  sea,  it  may  sometimes  be  a  great  error  to  try  to  get  to  land. 
If  there  be  a  strong  “outsetting”  tide,  and  you  are  swimming  either  by 
yourself  or  have  hold  of  a  person  who  cannot  swim,  then  get  on  your  back 
and  float  till  help  comes.  Many  a  man  exhausts  himself  by  stemming  the 
billows  for  the  shore  on  a  back-going  tide,  and  sinks  in  the  effort,  when,  if 
he  had  floated,  a  boat  or  other  aid  might  have  been  obtained. 

9.  These  instructions  apply  alike  to  all  circumstances,  whether  as 
regards  the  roughest  sea  or  smooth  water. 


STOP!  THINK!  LOOK  AND  LISTEN 


177 


Treatment  of  Frostbites 


As  Recommended  by  the  Surgeon-General  of  the  Public  Health 

and  Marine-Hospital  Service. 

1.  Do  not  bring  the  patient  to  the  fire,  nor  bathe  the  parts  in  warm 

water.  ' 

2.  If  snow  be  on  the  ground,  or  accessible,  take  a  woolen  cloth  in  the 
hand,  place  a  handful  of  snow  upon  it,  and  gently  rub  the  frozen  part 
until  the  natural  color  is  restored.  In  case  snow  is  not  at  hand,  bathe 
the  part  gently  with  a  woolen  cloth  in  the  coldest  fresh  water  obtain¬ 
able — ice  water  if  practicable. 

3.  In  case  the  frostbite  is  old,  and  the  skin  has  turned  black  or  begun 
to  scale  off.  do  not  attempt  to  restore  its  vitality  by  friction,  but  apply 
carron  oil  on  a  little  cotton;  after  which  wrap  the  part  loosely  in  flannel. 

4.  In  all  cases,  as  soon  as  the  vitality  has  been  restored,  apply  the 
carron  oil,  prepared  according  to  Service  formula.®  As  it  contains  opium. 

do  not  administer  morphia  or  other  opiate. 

• 

5.  In  the  case  of  a  person  apparently  dead  from  exposure  to  cold, 
friction  should  be  applied  to  the  body  and  the  lower  extremities,  and 
artificial  respiration  practiced  as  in  cases  of  the  apparently  drowned. 
As  soon  as  the  circulation  appears  to  be  restored,  administer  spirits  and 
water  at  intervals  of  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  until  the  flesh  feels  natural. 
Even  if  no  signs  of  life  appear,  friction  should  be  kept  up  for  a  long  period, 
as  instances  are  on  record  of  recovery  after  several  hours  of  suspended 
animation. 


®Carron  oil — (Service  formula) : 
Olive  oil  or  linseed  oil  (raw). 
Limewater,  of  each  12  parts. 
Tincture  of  opium,  1  part. 
Mix. 


178 


BETTER  BE  SAFE  THAN  SORRY 


(c) 


Resuscitation 

After 

Electric 

Shock 


1.  Break  the  circuit  immedi¬ 

ately  with  a  single  quick  mo¬ 
tion,  using  a  dr\  non -Con¬ 
ductor — a  hoard,  rubber 

gloves, mackintosh  or  dr>'  cbtth. 
Don’t  use  metal  or  moist  ma¬ 
terial.  The  victim’s  loose 
clothing,  if  dry,  may  be  used 
to  pull  him  away,  but  do  not 
touch  his  shoes,  as  the  nails 
are  dangerous.  Only  use  ONE 
hand. 

2.  Feel  with  finger  in  his 
throat  for  false  teeth,  tobacco, 
gum,  etc. 

3.  Then  commence  artificial 
respiration,  thus — 

A.  Lay  body  flat  on  back. 
Draw  tongue  out  of  mouth, 
and  have  assistant  hold.  Seize 
hoth  arms  at  the  wrists. 

B.  Sweep  the  arms  around 
horizontally  away  from  the 
body  and  over  the  head,  and 
exert  a  strong  pull  on  them 
for  a  few  seconds. 

A  foot  may  be  placed  on  the 
shoulder  of  the  patient  being 
aided.  This  manoeuver  fills 
I  he  lungs  with  air. 

C.  The  next  manoeuver  con¬ 
sists  in  rising  and  bringing  the 
patient’s  arms  down  in  front 
of  the  chest,  making  strong 
pressure  with  them  against 
lower  ribs,  pressing  on  same 
with  the  weight  of  the  body 
in  order  to  drive  the  air  out 
of  the  chest.  Repeat  this  pro¬ 
cedure  regularly  at  the  rate  of 
about  sixteen  complete  acts  ol 
respiration  per  minute. 


Do  not  abandon  this 
treatment  under  half 
an  hour 


5 


From  *  ‘Safety  Engineering’’ 


With  the 

INFALLIBLE  SHUR-LOC 

in  charge  of  elevators 

The  Killing  and  Maiming 
of  Human  Beings  Cease 


YEARLY  average  of  about  forty  persons  killed  on 
account  of  elevators  is  shown  by  the  record  of  the 
coroner  of  Cook  County.  These  are  actual  killings! 

The  incomplete  record  of  accidents  totals  about  lOO  yearly. 
The  actual  number  is  probably  over  double. 


Statistics  show  that  more  than  80  per  cent  of  elevator 
accidents  occur  at  the  hatchway  door,  where  persons 
either  enter  or  leave  the  car. 


Engineers  and  all  others  interested  are  cordially  invited  to 
inspect  the  Shur-Loc  at  our  offices. 


SHUR-LOC  ELEVATOR  SAFETY  CO.  o/  ILL. 

SUITE  735,  208  SOUTH  LA  SALLE  STREET 


Remember  It  Is  Better  to  Cause  a 
Delay  Than  to  Cause  an  Accident 


SAFETY  FIRST  is  not  a  question  of  dollart  and  cents; 
it  is  a  question  of  saving  human  life,  the  most  valuable 
thing  in  the  world,  which,  when  once  gone,  can  never  he 
brought  hack.  It  is  trying  to  save  men  from  losing  their 
legs  and  their  arms  which  never  can  he  put  hack;  it  is 
trying  to  save  the  making  of  widows  and  orphans,  desti* 
tution  and  misery.  Neither  the  company  officers  nor  the 
laws  can  do  it.  But  the  men  themselves  can  do  it  if  they  try. 


Chicago  &  North  Western 
Railway  Company  - 

Central  Safety  Committee 

The  North  Western  Railway  Co.  started  the  SAFETY 
FIRST  movement  in  order  to  conserve  the  lives  and  limbs  of 
its  men,  realizing  perhaps  earlier  than  most  other  employers 
of  labor  that  the  men  were  the  most  valuable  asset  it  had. 

The  men  became  convinced  that  they  themselves  had  to 
bear  the  real  burden  of  the  accidents;  that  every  time  an  ex¬ 
perienced  man  was  injured  a  new  or  green  man  had  to  be  put 
in  his  place,  thereby  increasing  the  risk  of  injury  to  all  the 
other  men  and  at  the  same  time  decreasing  the  efficiency  of 
the  organization.  They  were  told  that  we  wanted  to  make 
the  Chicago  CSb  North  Western  Ry.  not  only  the  BEST  but 
the  SAFEST  in  the  country. 

How  well  they  have  succeeded  in  doing  so  is  best  indicated 
by  the  fact  that  during  the  58  months  (ending  May  1,  1915,) 
since  the  inauguration  of  the  Safety  First  movemant  on  our 
road,  as  compared  with  58  months  on  same  basis  as  year  end- 
ing  June  30,  1910,  there  were: 

415  fewer  persons  killed,  a  decrease  of  24.2% 
13,418  fewer  persons  injured,  a  decrease  of  27.1% 

And  the  further  fact  that  in  April,  1915,  NOT  ONE  EMPLOYE  was 
killed  on  the  North  Western  Railway,  which — for  a  Company  operat¬ 
ing  8,423  miles  of  line  and  employing  about  50,000  men — is  truly  a 
remarkable  record. 

It  Takes  Less  Time  to  Prevent  an 
Accident  Than  It  Does  to  Report  One 

NW3818  


—The  “Olympian”  trail  is 
laid  with  the  heaviest  steel 
rails— the  bridges  are  steel 
— the  grades  are  the  easiest 
— and  the  line  is  the  shortest, 


— The  “Olympian”  cars  all  are  con¬ 
structed  of  steel  with  interiors  finished 
in  rich  mahogany — thus  combining  util¬ 
ity  and  beauty. 

**The  Olympian’'^ 

Leaves  Chicago  daily  at  10:15  p.  m.,  for 
Spokane,  Seattle  and  Tacoma  via  the 

CHICAGO 


All  equipment  is  “St. 
Pour  owned  and 
operated. 


The  "Columbian” — also  all  steel — leaves 

Chicago  daily  at  10:10  a.  m. 

Tickets,  literature  and  full  information  at  • 

62  W.  Adams  Street.  Marquette  Bldo-  (Tel. Harrison  6162, 
Automatic  680>326)  and  Union  Passenger  Station 

GEO.  B.  HAYNES,  General  Passenger  Agent,  CHICAGO 


Steel 


— The  “Olympian”  attendants  are 
all  "St.  Paul"  employees — "true 
as  steel.”  One  road — under  one 
management —with  one  service — 
"St.  Paul”  all  the  way  insures  a 
trip  of  solid  comfort  and  enjoyment. 


1x1® 


The  “Touch -a- Button” 

Lighter 

SHOULD  BE  ON 
EVERY  GAS  RANGE 

It  is  always  ready  for  use  and 
does  away  with  the  dirt  and 
danger  of  matches 


The 

Touch-a-Button  Lighter 


Can  be  attached  to  any  gas  range. 
Four  paytnents  with  gas  bill. 
Three  at  fifty  cents,  and  last  one 
forty-five  cents,  $1.95  in  all.  Send 
postal  card  request  to 


The  Peoples  Gas  Light  and  Coke  Company 

122  Michigan  Boulevlard,  or  Call  Randolph  4567 


C.  G.  Macklin,  President  John  Suster,  Secretary 

Newcomb- 

Macklin 

Co. 

Corner  State  and  Kinzie  Sts. 

CHICAGO 

NEW  YORK  OFFICE:  233  FIFTH  AVENUE 

BUY  DIRECT  FROM  THE  MAKER 

PICTURE  FRAMES 
MADE  TO  ORDER 

ALL  STYLES  and  FINISHES 

REGILDING  OUR  SPECIALTY 

Chicago  Telephone  Central  5215 


YOUR  DUTY  AS  A  CON  SCI  EM¬ 
TIO  US  CITIZEN  IS  TO  SUPPOR  T 
A  SAEETY  FIRST  MOVEMENT 
IN  YOUR  COMMUNITY 

YOU  take  pride  in  the  fact  that  your  community 
thinks  well  of  you.  Here  is  an  opportunity  for 
you  to  render  a  valuable  service  to  your  commun¬ 
ity  and  to  yourself.  There  are  a  great  many  accidents 
occurring  which  should  never  occur;  they  are  prevent¬ 
able,  and  you  can  be  a  factor  in  making  your  commun¬ 
ity  a  safe  community.  Lend  your  hearty  support  to  a 
live  Safety  First  movement,  and  thereby  contribute 
your  share  towards  preventing  the  maiming  and  kill¬ 
ing  of  persons  in  your  community  from  preventable 
accidents.  You  can  become  an  efficient  accident  pre- 
ventionist  and  a  factor  in  Safety  First  work  by  reading 

Safety  Engineering 

—The  Magazine  of  Safety 

This  magazine  publishes  each  month  information 
which  should  be  carefully  read  by  every  conscientious 
citizen.  It  is  the  leading  medium  of  information  on 
SAFETY,  and  sets  forth  in  an  interesting  and  intel¬ 
ligent  manner  how  conditions  of  safety  to  human  life 
can  be  secured. 

Subscription  Price  $3.00  a  year 

Send  for  sample  copy  and  learn  about  the  wonderful 
strides  now  being  accomplished  in  safeguarding  life 
and  property  against  damage  and  destruction. 

SAFETY  ENGINEERING 

8o  Maiden  Lane  New  York 


3  0112  059077849 

V  I  I  f  I 


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